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The team tested the lifestyle and biological factors for optimal fat burning by asking participants to take part in a cycling fitness test and measuring key indicators, like 'peak VO2' – their highest possible oxygen uptake.
Their results, detailed in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Medicine, found that females and those who were physically fitter, right across the age ranges, burnt fat more efficiently.
How the body burns fat can make the difference between success and failure in endurance sport competitions, such as running or cycling.
The University of Bath team have published a second related paper in the journal Experimental Physiology this month.