Self-Care by Muslim Women during Ramadan Fasting to Protect Nutritional and Cardiovascular Health

The practice of Ramadan involves a series of changes in lifestyle, mainly in eating habits. The research aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight-obesity, the degree of compliance with dietary recommendations and the effects of religious fasting on cardiovascular health among a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-11, Vol.18 (23), p.12393
Main Authors: López-Bueno, Marta, Fernández-Aparicio, Ángel, González-Jiménez, Emilio, Montero-Alonso, Miguel Ángel, Schmidt-RioValle, Jacqueline
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Body composition
Body mass
Body Mass Index
Body measurements
Body size
Body weight
Cardiovascular diseases
Fasting
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health risks
Humans
Islam
Lipids
Muslims
Nutrition
Obesity
Overweight
Self Care
Values
Variables
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Summary:The practice of Ramadan involves a series of changes in lifestyle, mainly in eating habits. The research aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight-obesity, the degree of compliance with dietary recommendations and the effects of religious fasting on cardiovascular health among a population of Muslim women living in Melilla, a Spanish city in North Africa. A follow-up cohort study was conducted on 62 healthy adult women (33.6 ± 12.7 years). Anthropometric and body composition parameters were obtained using bioimpedance and dietary records. All of the participants were overweight or obese, especially due to the non-compliance with dietary recommendations; however, more than 60% considered their weight was appropriate or even low. By the end of Ramadan, the women's body mass index and fat component values had fallen significantly ( < 0.001), but this loss was later recovered. Dietary records revealed an excessive consumption of lipids and sodium, and the presence of a high waist-to-hip ratio. All of these factors are related to cardiovascular risk. In conclusion, promoting nutritional health and encouraging year-round self-care among adult Muslim women is necessary in order to ensure healthy fasting during Ramadan.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph182312393