Considering intermittent fasting among Saudis: insights into practices

Abstract

Background There is a dearth of studies on intermittent fasting in Saudi Arabia outside of Ramadan. The aim of this research was to study and describe the practice of intermittent fasting outside of Ramadan among Saudi people. Methods A web-based survey that focused on intermittent fasting practices—specifically the use of intermittent fasting applications, goal setting, and the effects of fasting on an individual’s state of health—was administered, collected, and analyzed. Results The study revealed that 58% (298/514) of the respondents practiced intermittent fasting for a duration of less than 3 months. The most-practiced pattern of intermittent fasting was a 16/8 fasting pattern (43.8%, 225/514). About 88.3% (454/514) of those who followed intermittent fasting drank fluids while fasting. Additionally, the amount of weight loss after intermittent fasting was less than 2.2 kg for 35% (180/514) of the participants. The primary goal of intermittent fasting for 44.9% (231/514) of the respondents was to lose weight. The majority of the participants (84.6%, 435/514) did not use any fasting applications. Conclusion The results of the current research on intermittent fasting outside of Ramadan are preliminary and inconclusive. The findings of the present study advance the idea that for some Saudis, the practice of intermittent fasting does not necessarily begin and end with Ramadan; this finding may present a strategic opportunity for Saudi health professionals who are focused on the obesity epidemic and other public health issues in Saudi Arabia. This study sought to help start a discussion on this topic and fill the knowledge gap.

Intermittent Fasting: Benefits, Side Effects, Quality of Life, and Knowledge of the Saudi Population

“…The findings of our study showed that the number of males was slightly higher than the females by 7.4%, while another study has shown that female participants tend to be a majority, and also practice IF longer than males [1]. When it comes to age category, most of our respondents were between the age of 18 and 35, which makes sense since this age group is adolescents/adults who have greater concern about their weight than any other age category.…”

“…Fasting is a practice followed by our ancestors for thousands of years; it has several aspects and is of different types such as for religious, cultural, or health reasons. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan for a specific period during the day, which is similar to intermittent fasting (IF) [1]. This type of diet is based on an eating pattern that alternates between periods of fasting and eating.…”

Intermittent Fasting: Socio-Economic Profile of Spanish Citizens Who Practice It and the Influence of This Dietary Pattern on the Health and Lifestyle Habits of the Population

“…In our study, we explore lifestyle habits as well as health perceptions among a sample of Spanish adults following an IF diet to better understand the practice of this dietary approach. IF, as a highly intriguing clinical nutritional approach, is more and more recognized in our society not only for its health benefits [22,[41][42][43] but also for the convenience of practicing it [44,45]. A growing popularity has been noticed as well as an increasing interest among the Spanish population, decreasing the interest in the Mediterranean diet [46].…”

“…This fact leads to an imbalance between the number of men and women who reported following an IF diet, with 783 women (76.92%) out of the total 1018 IF practitioners in our sample. This gender distribution may reflect either a heightened interest among women in diet interventions [17] or that men are less likely to participate in surveys [22,42,47]. An exception is presented in a study conducted on the Saudi population, which showed a slightly higher participation of men compared to women [21].…”

“…A recent study explored the benefits, side effects, quality of life and knowledge of the Saudi population practicing IF and related those to socio-demographic variables of the population studied [21]. Another recent study, again conducted on the Saudi population, aimed to describe the practice of IF outside of Ramadan [22]. A third study, conducted on the Swedish population, aimed to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with adherence to a specific diet and attempts to lose weight.…”