Intermittent Fasting among Individuals in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Characteristics, Reasons, and Health Outcomes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained widespread attention globally as a dietary practice for its potential health benefits and role in weight management, metabolic health, and overall well-being. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics, reasons, and health outcomes of IF among individuals living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: A web-based online study was conducted among individuals living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, over 3 months in 2024. Data collection was performed using a prevalidated series of questionnaires, following simple random sampling. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Chi-squared or Fisher’s test was used to find the association between variables at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of IF was 60.3%. The most frequent chronic diseases among the respondents were obesity (11.5%), diabetes (9.7%), and heart disease (8.0%). Energy deficiency was the most prevalent symptom during IF (18%; n = 61), followed by hunger and dizziness (15%; n = 60). Out of the 109 participants, around 33% reported practicing IF for less than a week, and 12.7% reported practicing it for more than 2 weeks. Among them, 17.7% followed a 12-h eating schedule for fasting, while 15.0% followed a 16-h fasting pattern and eight hours of food consumption. In this study, 11.5% of individuals lost <2 kg, 16.5% lost 3 kg, and 9% lost between 5 and 9.9 kg. Losing weight (27.4%; n = 93) and becoming healthy (26.5%; n = 90) were the most frequent reasons given by respondents for IF. Furthermore, 35.7% reported feeling better, while 22.7% reported great health after IF. Significant differences were found between the respondents’ age group and fasting pattern (P = 0.018). However, the findings did not reveal a significant difference between fasting pattern and respondent gender (P = 0.506). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a sizable percentage of individuals practice IF with varying reasons, durations, and patterns. In addition, a significant percentage of respondents reported losing weight and feeling better after IF. The findings suggest that IF may be advantageous for a variety of health outcomes.