The Effects of Ramadan fasting on the body fat percent among adults

Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims all over the world. In this month, they fast for about 10 to 19 hours per day depending on their geographical locations. 13 male (age: 28 ± 4Yr, body mass 70 ± 10 kg) and 10 female (age: 27 ± 3 Yr, body mass 58 ± 12 kg) respondents volunteered to take part in this study. Estimation of body density (BD) was determined by using the skin fold technique. A Holtain skin fold caliper (John Bull, British Indictors Ltd, UK) was used to measure the adipose layer on the dominant side of the body surface at seven sites: chest, abdomen, midaxillary, subpariliac, triceps, sub scapular and thigh. Skin folds were measured at all the seven sites and the procedure was repeated three times. The skin fold measurement was done a week before Ramadan, during each week of Ramadan (4 weeks totally), and at the end of the first week of Shawwal (the month after Ramadan). Results indicated that both male and female adults had a positive effect on their body fat during Ramadan (decrease in BF). The BF of the subjects reduced gradually from the first week of the study towards the fifth week (end of the Ramadan). However, during the sixth week (first week of Shawwal), the BF increased in both groups. This clearly indicates that fasting during Ramadan caused positive effect on controlling the BF