title: The effect of the Malaysian Food Guideline guidance on a group of overweight and obese women during Ramadan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of imparting knowledge of the Malaysian Food Guideline (MFG) on a group of overweight and obese women during Ramadan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This intervention study was conducted during the months of Ramadan 2011. A group of 84 Malay Muslim women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were recruited. Prior to Ramadan, the respondents were educated regarding MFG, and how to monitor and record their daily food intake in a food diary. Their quantity of food intake, BMI, blood pressure (BP), blood lipid profile, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were measured before Ramadan as a baseline. Their quantity of food intake was then measured again in the third week, whereas their BMI, BP, blood lipid profile, and FBS were determined on the fourth week of Ramadan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, compared with the MFG recommendations, the intake of protein (107.5%), and milk and dairy products (133%) was higher, whereas the intake of carbohydrates (78.5%), and vegetables and fruits (44.4%) was lower. During Ramadan, carbohydrate intake, BMI, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL)-C (all p=0.000), triglyceride (p=0.005), and FBS (p=0.002) were reduced, but the TC/HDL-C ratio was increased (p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A month-long Ramadan fast guided by the knowledge of MFG resulted in certain positive changes in this group of respondents. These changes can be a good start for health improvement, provided that they are followed-up after Ramadan.
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia. E-mail. si_suriani@upm.edu.my.
authors: Ismail
authors: I
authors: Suriani
authors: Khadijah
authors: K
authors: Shamsuddin
authors: Khalib
authors: K
authors: Abdul Latif
authors: Hazizi A
authors: HA
authors: Saad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015930:Diet Records; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008296:Malaysia; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
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