Navigation
Changes in anthropometric indices, lifestyle patterns, and mental stress with ramadan intermittent fasting among healthy students: A prospective cohort study
Ramadan Intermittent Fasting (RIF) presents potential benefits for metabolic health, but the specific impacts on body weight and lifestyle behaviors require further exploration. This investigation addresses these areas by assessing how RIF influences anthropometric measures, lifestyle changes, and mental stress among university students.
A prospective cohort study encompassing 150 students aged 18–40 years was conducted to gather comprehensive data. This involved administering questionnaires and conducting personal interviews both one week before RIF and immediately following a week of fasting. Measurements of body weight and height facilitated the calculation of the Body Mass Index (BMI) alongside several other obesity-related indices, such as the Conicity Index (CI), Abdominal Volume Index (AVI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Weight-Adjusted-Waist Index (WWI), and Body Roundness Index (BRI).
Notably, the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) experienced a considerable reduction, decreasing from 0.481 ± 0.11 to 0.45 ± 0.10. A marked reduction in body weight was also observed, shifting from 62.63 ± 1.2 kg to 69.25 ± 1.18 kg (p < 0.05). Similarly, BRI showed a significant change, moving from 1.84 ± 0.37 to 1.06 ± 0.17 (p < 0.05). Conversely, no significant differences were noted for the CI, WWI, and BAI indices.
Additionally, lifestyle modifications following RIF included a reduction in sleep duration from 8 ± 0.581 hours to 6 ± 0.263 hours (p < 0.05) and a decrease in meal frequency from 3 ± 1.242 to 1 ± 0.135 meals per day (p < 0.05). Importantly, stress levels among participants significantly declined after fasting (p < 0.05).
In conclusion, RIF demonstrates promise in promoting beneficial health outcomes by influencing dietary behaviors, sleep patterns, and stress levels. This leads to reductions in body weight, BMI, and BRI, underscoring the positive effects of fasting among healthy university students. [NPID: fasting, anthropometric measures, BMI, stress]
Year: 2026
