Abstract
The practice of Ramadan involves a series of changes in lifestyle, mainly in eating habits. The research aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight-obesity, the degree of compliance with dietary recommendations and the effects of religious fasting on cardiovascular health among a population of Muslim women living in Melilla, a Spanish city in North Africa. A follow-up cohort study was conducted on 62 healthy adult women (33.6 ± 12.7 years). Anthropometric and body composition parameters were obtained using bioimpedance and dietary records. All of the participants were overweight or obese, especially due to the non-compliance with dietary recommendations; however, more than 60% considered their weight was appropriate or even low. By the end of Ramadan, the women’s body mass index and fat component values had fallen significantly (p < 0.001), but this loss was later recovered. Dietary records revealed an excessive consumption of lipids and sodium, and the presence of a high waist-to-hip ratio. All of these factors are related to cardiovascular risk. In conclusion, promoting nutritional health and encouraging year-round self-care among adult Muslim women is necessary in order to ensure healthy fasting during Ramadan.
Highlights
IntroductionThe average duration of the daytime fast depends on the date and the place of residence [1], since the Muslim calendar follows the lunar system and each month moves through the solar seasons
Our results show that body mass index (BMI) values fell during Ramadan, which corroborates previous research in this area, conducted in different countries [14,15,16,17]
The BMI values of our participants decreased during Ramadan, but they had returned to baseline three months later
Summary
The average duration of the daytime fast depends on the date and the place of residence [1], since the Muslim calendar follows the lunar system and each month moves through the solar seasons. Some researchers consider this practice a model of intermittent fasting, characterised by the sudden introduction of modifications in dietary habits [2]. Muslims have two meals during the night, one when the fast is broken, shortly after sunset, and the other just before sunrise This change in eating schedules affects other activities of daily life [3]
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