Changes in dietary and lifestyle behaviors and mental stress among medical students upon Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting: a prospective cohort study from Taif/Saudi Arabia
Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained popularity as an effective method for managing weight. This practice is observed across various religious traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, with over 1.5 billion Muslims globally fasting from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. Ramadan-specific intermittent fasting (RDIF) has numerous health advantages, such as decreased risks of cardiovascular diseases and mood enhancements. Despite these benefits, the influence of RDIF on lifestyle habits, including regular physical activity, healthy eating, avoidance of detrimental substances, mental stress levels, and academic outcomes for students in higher education, has not been fully explored. In a study designed to evaluate these aspects, medical students from Taif University in Taif, Saudi Arabia, were surveyed one week before Ramadan and in the final week of Ramadan in April 2022 (Ramadan 1443 in the Hijri Islamic Calendar). The survey aimed to assess changes in lifestyle habits, stress levels, and academic achievements. Information was collected on several factors contributing to a healthy lifestyle, such as body mass index, level of physical activity, compliance with a Mediterranean diet, smoking habits, and amount of sleep, to derive an overall healthy lifestyle score. The study revealed that RDIF positively affected lifestyle choices for both female and male participants, evidenced by an increase in the average lifestyle score following RDIF (from 2.42 to 2.74). Participants showed increased physical activity, greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet during RDIF, and a significant reduction in smoking rates by 53.4%. Although male students reported increased stress levels during RDIF, there was no observed impact on academic performance. In summary, RDIF contributes to healthier dietary and lifestyle practices among medical students without negatively influencing their academic performance. Nonetheless, it is associated with increased perceived stress among male students.
Year: 2023
