The Effect of Fasting on Anthropometric Parameters and Blood Pressure Levels: A Report from Southern Iran

Background: Ramadan is the fasting month among Muslims and the change in eating
and sleep pattern can cause changes in human health.
Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the effect of fasting in Ramadan on
the anthropometric parameters and blood pressure level.
Patients and Methods: This is a semi-experimental study conducted as before and after
design on 93 staff of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2014. The participants
were selected through convenience sampling method. All the subjects were assessed for
anthropometry parameters and blood pressure levels in two sections, before and after
Ramadan. Data were presented as mean (SD) or number (%) for continuous or discrete
variables, respectively. The data were analyzed via paired and independent t-test or
Chi-square test. All the analyses were performed using the statistical Package for Social
Sciences, version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P value less than 5% was considered
significant.
Results: All the subjects completed the study. In this study, 93 subjects with an age range
of 25 - 57 years and mean of age 37.2 ± 7.9 years participated. Among them, 49 cases
(52.7%) were men. All the anthropometric parameters and blood pressure showed a
significant difference; BMI: (26.1 ± 3.3 vs. 25.7 ± 3.2, P < 0.001), waist circumference:
(89.1 ± 11.1 vs. 87.5 ± 11.1, P < 0.001), hip circumference: (101.4 ± 8.6 vs. 100.1 ± 8.5, P <
0.001), systolic blood pressure (101.7 ± 12.9 vs. 99.4 ± 12.7, P = 0.041), and diastolic blood
pressure (72.3 ± 4.9 vs. 70.9 ± 5.3, P = 0.041). In addition, decrease in body mass index (P
= 0.042) and weight (P = 0.03) were significantly greater in men.
Conclusions: The data revealed that Ramadan can reduce anthropometric parameters
and blood pressure levels. It was found that reduction in BMI and HC in men was
significantly greater than women.