title: Weight change during and after Ramadan fasting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a month. Knowing whether Ramadan fasting affects body weight has implications for health advice to the Muslim community, for understanding the effects of skipping meals on body weight, and for general weight management advice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared body weight before and after the Ramadan fast and 1 month later in observant Muslims attending a Mosque in East London, UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 202 participants who provided weight at the beginning and the end of Ramadan, there was a small weight decrease (-0.84 kg, 95% CI = -0.6 to -1, P < 0.0001), with 46% of participants losing >1 kg. Participants who fasted throughout Ramadan lost significantly more weight (1 kg) than those who occasionally broke fast (0.3 kg, P = 0.013). In 87 participants who provided weight at the beginning and end of Ramadan and also 1 month later, all the lost weight was regained (+0.1 kg, 95% CI = 0.2-0.5, P = 0.504 compared with baseline).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observers of Ramadan lose on average about a kilogram of weight over 4 weeks, and the lost weight is quickly regained. Current weight management treatments generally assume that skipping meals leads to weight gain and advise against it. The finding suggests that further research is needed on the justification of the 'do not skip meals' advice.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry,  Queen Mary, University of London, London Newark Street, London E1 2AT,  UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hajek
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Al-Rehan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dhanji
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Hayden
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McRobbie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss