Research on exercising before or after eating can help explain short-term physiological responses. It does not automatically establish which eating schedule produces lasting weight loss for every cyclist.
What the referenced study measured
The University of Bath report describes a study of ten overweight men who walked on a treadmill under fed and fasted conditions. The researchers examined changes in fat-tissue gene expression. This was not a cycling trial demonstrating a universal long-term weight-loss result, and it did not test a separate meal-timing rule for women.
A practical fueling plan also needs to account for the duration and intensity of the ride and individual requirements. Discuss a personalized approach with a qualified sports dietitian rather than applying a fixed before-or-after rule from this small study.
Source: University of Bath report and study link.
