Zahra Chehade
Research Mentor: Abdullah Alwaleedi
Mentor Department: Movement Science, Kinesiology
Author(s): Abdullah Alwaleedi
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 50
Abstract
Background: Ramadan fasting alters meal timing, hydration, and energy intake, all of which may influence lipid metabolism and cardiovascular function. Whether the addition of regular aerobic exercise during Ramadan modifies these responses remains poorly understood, particularly in overweight metabolically healthy individuals. Methods: Twenty-seven metabolically healthy adults (16 males, 11 females; mean age 35 years; BMI > 27 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to Ramadan fasting alone (RDF, n = 13) or Ramadan fasting with five days per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (RDF+EX, n = 14). Fasting lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and resting heart rate (HR) were measured pre- and post-Ramadan. Results: Neither group demonstrated statistically significant changes in SBP, DBP, or resting heart rate over the Ramadan period (all p > .05). In the RDF group, total cholesterol showed a non-significant downward trend (186.36 ± 30.18 to 177.82 ± 36.68 mg/dL, p = .223), as did LDL cholesterol (121.55 ± 27.08 to 109.55 ± 31.67 mg/dL, p = .079). In contrast, the RDF+EX group showed a statistically significant increase in total cholesterol (179.50 ± 36.42 to 190.00 ± 37.83 mg/dL, p = .023), with no significant changes in HDL, LDL, or triglycerides in either group. Conclusion: Ramadan fasting with or without aerobic exercise did not significantly alter blood pressure or resting heart rate in metabolically healthy overweight adults. The unexpected rise in total cholesterol observed in the exercise group warrants further investigation, as it may reflect acute metabolic adaptations to combined fasting and exercise stress, increased lipolysis, or dietary changes during Ramadan. Future studies with larger samples and dietary monitoring are needed to clarify the cardiovascular and lipid responses to exercise training during Ramadan.????????????????
