Anthropometry and Body Composition Status during Ramadan among Higher Institution Learning Centre Staffs with Different Body Weight Status

Abstract

This study was done to observe the anthropometry and body composition changes before, during, and after the holy month of Ramadan. This study was carried out on 46 staff from one of the local universities, which comprised of 14 males and 32 females ranging in age from 25 to 40 years old. There were four sessions done to complete this study, namely, a week before Ramadan (T1), 1st week of Ramadan (T2), 3rd week of Ramadan (T3), and a month after Ramadan (T4). All subjects were assessed according to weight, body circumference, and body composition status. It was found that subjects with different weight status showed a significant reduction in weight (P < 0.01) but no significant reduction in body fat percentage (P < 0.05). The findings suggest that weight reduction does not promise a reduction in body fat. Changes in neck circumference were only found in normal subjects. Hence, it can be said that overweight and obese subjects showed no changes in anthropometry status during Ramadan. No changes in body composition were reported in all three weight groups except for trunk body fat. In conclusion, normal subjects showed significant changes in various anthropometry parameters, but overweight and obese subjects showed no obvious difference.

Effects of Ramadan and Non-ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Changes in body composition may also reflect a balance between the unavoidable decrease of meal frequency (i.e., from 3–4 to 2) and sleep duration, together with a reduction of spontaneous daily physical activity and coercive dehydration ( 27 – 29 ). However, the effects of Ramadan IF on body composition are not conclusive, with some studies indicating significant reductions in body weight ( 19 , 20 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 30 – 34 ) and many other failing to show any relevant changes ( 21 , 22 , 27 , 35 – 40 ). Such inconsistencies might be secondary to the specificities inherent to the participants included in each study.…”

Effects of Ramadan on food intake, glucose homeostasis, lipid profiles and body composition composition

“…The effects of Ramadan on energy balance and weight regulation have been well studied: but with some conflicting outcomes. Hence some studies indicate weight loss (including both fat and fat-free mass) (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), but in other studies body weight and body composition remain unchanged (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) and may even increase (1). Effects on food intake generally are not significant (8,11,12,18,20) but that may reflect the poor quality the tools to resolve food intake differences (21).…”

Cortical thickness, neurocognitive, and body composition effects of fasting during Ramadan

“…Contrary to this, Rohin et al . [22] found no significant effect on body composition in individual with different weight parameters. Another study by Sezen et al .…”