Pamela Fernandez Noble
Research Mentor: Abdullah Alwaleedi
Mentor Department: Movement Science, Kinesiology
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 55
Abstract
Background: Ramadan fasting produces caloric restriction that may influence body composition, yet its effects in overweight metabolically healthy adults remain unclear. Whether structured aerobic exercise during Ramadan augments favourable changes in body composition is also not well established. Methods: This randomised controlled trial allocated 27 metabolically healthy adults (16 males, 11 females; mean age 35 years; BMI > 27 kg/m²) to one of two groups during Ramadan: fasting alone (RDF, n = 13) or fasting combined with five days per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (RDF+EX, n = 14). Body weight, waist circumference, and body composition via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) — including fat mass, fat-free mass, lean mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat — were assessed before and after the Ramadan period. Results: In the RDF group, no significant within-group changes were observed for any anthropometric or body composition variable (all p > .05). In the RDF+EX group, DEXA-measured fat mass decreased significantly from 31.02 ± 11.37 kg to 30.47 ± 11.39 kg (p = .047). Near-significant reductions were also observed in body fat percentage (36.16 ± 8.83% to 35.72 ± 8.94%, p = .074) and visceral fat (1.07 ± 0.79 kg to 1.01 ± 0.72 kg, p = .067). Fat-free mass and lean mass remained stable in both groups (all p > .05). Conclusion: Ramadan fasting alone did not produce significant changes in body composition in metabolically healthy adults. The addition of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days per week during Ramadan showed a significant reduction in fat mass without affecting lean or fat-free mass. These findings suggest that structured exercise during Ramadan is a safe and effective strategy for improving body composition in this population.
