Comparisons of Anthropometric Measures, Dietary Intakes, and Lifestyle Factors of Young Adult Indonesian Muslims During Ramadan Fasting and in Regular Days

Abstract

Every year, millions of Muslims fast during the Ramadan month. The objective of the study was to compare anthropometric measures, dietary intake, and lifestyle factors of Indonesian Muslim young adults during regular days and during Ramadan fasting. The total sample sizes of this study were 49 subjects filled out anthropometric and lifestyles questionnaires before and after Ramadan, and 39 subjects provided 2-day dietary records during regular days and during Ramadan. Before Ramadan, the body weight and BMI were 55±10.8 kg and 22±3 kg/m2, respectively. After Ramadan, the body weight and BMI were 55±11 kg and 22±3 kg/m2, respectively. The differences between the subjects’ body weight as well as their BMI reported before and after Ramadan were significant (n=49; p=0.008; and p=0.012, respectively). Energy, protein, fat, n-6 PUFA, and phosphorus reduced significantly from regular to Ramadan days (n=39; 1688±434 kcal to 1521±364 kcal, p=0.004; 65±21 g to 55±16 g, p=0.001; 62±21 g to 49±17 g, p<0.0001; 14±7 g to 9±4 g, p<0.0001; 839±234 mg to 736±216 mg, p=0.005, respectively). Of the lifestyles, exercise durations and daily food expenses in daily decreased significantly (n=49; 27±27 min to 16±19 min, p=0.002; 435956±27645 IDR to 36549±29937 IDR, p=0.02, respectively). The frequency of exercise significantly changed during Ramadan (n=49, p=0.002). The body weight, BMI; intake of energy, protein, fat, n-6 PUFA, phosphorus; lifestyles of food expenses, exercise durations, and frequency of exercise of young adult Indonesian Muslims decreased significantly during Ramadan fasting when compared those in regular days.

Religious fasting and its impacts on individual, public, and planetary health: Fasting as a “religious health asset” for a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society

“…Similarly, Mengi Çelik et al ( 59 ) reported a decrease in body mass and BMI during Ramadan in 32 (12 males 20 females) Turkish healthy adults aged 19 and 32 years. Similar findings were reported in 49 Indonesian healthy adults (15 males, 34 females) ( 60 ). Hasan et al ( 61 ) found that Ramadan fasting decreased BMI and waist circumference in 55 overweight and obese participants (22 females and 33 males).…”