How exercise timing and social jetlag affect heart and metabolic health

Effects of time-of-day dependent exercise training on social jetlag induced susceptibility to cardiometabolic disease

NIH-funded research University of Nevada Las Vegas · NIH-11135579

This project looks at whether mismatched weekday/weekend sleep schedules change how the timing of exercise helps protect heart and metabolic health for people at risk of cardiovascular and metabolic problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Nevada Las Vegas NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Las Vegas, United States)
Project IDNIH-11135579 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would learn whether chronic differences between weekday and weekend sleep schedules (called social jetlag) reduce the benefits people get from regular exercise. The team will compare exercise performed at different times of day under normal and misaligned sleep schedules and measure fitness, blood markers of metabolism, and heart-related signals. Participants’ sleep and activity patterns will be tracked and fitness tests and blood samples taken across weeks of training. The aim is to find practical timing advice that helps exercise protect the heart and metabolism when daily schedules are irregular.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with irregular sleep schedules (for example shift workers or people who change sleep times on weekends) or those at increased risk for cardiometabolic disease.

Not a fit: People with very regular sleep schedules who are not at cardiometabolic risk, and individuals unable to perform regular exercise, are less likely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to simple exercise-timing recommendations that better protect against heart disease and metabolic problems for people with irregular schedules.

How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and some human studies show time-of-day can change exercise effects, but studying the impact of chronic social jetlag on exercise training responses is a new application.

Where this research is happening

Las Vegas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cardiometabolic DiseaseCardiometabolic DisorderCardiovascular Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.