Is it easier and faster to lose weight if you exercise on an empty stomach? Here's what you need to know.

For those who want to eliminate accumulated fat, there are some exercises to reduce this deposit in the body, and some believe that exercising on an empty stomach may serve their purpose better.

To answer this question with clear arguments, nutritionist Aitor Sánchez, from La Vanguardia, describes what intense exercise does to the body.

According to the professional, exercising on an empty stomach will depend on your goals, whether it's to lose weight or gain muscle mass.

If you train on an empty stomach before eating anything, it doesn't mean that it will be more effective in losing fat, for example.

The body of the person who exercises will adapt to the situation of not having nutrients in the blood, that is, on an empty stomach and in the long term, this will provide an improvement in their performance and performance.

Many people, due to their work or school schedules, need to exercise and train on an empty stomach, but when it comes to losing fat or weight, this isn't mandatory, since the loss of fat deposits depends on many factors.

For example, if you are looking to lose fat, it is better to increase your training time during the week, and it does not matter if this is on an empty stomach or not.

Research published in 2013 by Northumbria University showed that people can burn up to 20 percent of body fat while exercising in the morning on an empty stomach.

Researchers asked twelve male participants to perform a series of exercises at 10 a.m. The study showed that those who skipped breakfast burned more fat and reduced their calorie intake.

(Next: How to increase muscle mass, with more reps or more load? Experts answer.)

However, another study included 20 women and found no significant differences in not eating before training.

An article published by Healthline, a U.S. health provider website, shared that when you choose to exercise on an empty stomach, your body uses protein as fuel. This results in less protein needed to build and repair muscle after your workout.

When you exercise without eating well, you may burn energy sources and have decreased stamina. You may also experience dizziness, nausea, and tremors.

Joaquín González Saucedo, a nutritionist for high-performance athletes, agrees that nutritional and training planning should be individualized and take into account each person's physical condition and specific needs.

"It's worth noting, for example, that the same rules don't apply to elite athletes as they do to amateurs, even though there are certain guidelines that apply to all," he mentions.

Intermittent fasting before exercise has benefits, but it's not suitable for all athletes. Hintze warns that in long-duration endurance sports, such as triathlons or marathons, it's crucial to eat beforehand to maintain glucose reserves to sustain exercise for hours. On the other hand, some choose to train while fasting to promote weight loss, although this may not be optimal for performance.

Studies cited by Runner's World and the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism explore the implications of exercising while fasting, finding mixed results regarding fat oxidation and performance.

Recent research challenges the practice of training in a fasted state , showing that eating before exercise can result in greater muscle gains and the ability to lift heavier. However, Hintze points out that in disciplines like martial arts, which are shorter in duration and don't rely heavily on glucose, training in a fasted state may not pose significant risks.