Research

Energy balance

Ramadan intermittent fasting leads to significant reductions in body weight and fat-free mass across all adult demographics, with fat loss occurring primarily in males and younger subjects (<35 years).

If you practice Ramadan fasting, expect to lose weight and some lean mass. Men and younger individuals are more likely to lose fat, while older women may see less fat loss. To minimize muscle loss, prioritize protein intake during non-fasting hours and consider resistance training.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Ramadan fasting leads to weight loss and fat-free mass reductions. Body composition changes vary depending on age and sex.
Abdolreza Norouzy et al. · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · 2013

Why this rating

Prospective observational study with a reasonable sample size (n=240) but limited dietary assessment (sub-sample n=35) and no physical activity tracking.

Source

Effect of fasting in <scp>R</scp>amadan on body composition and nutritional intake: a prospective study

Abdolreza Norouzy et al. · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · 2013

DOI 10.1111/jhn.12042

cohort · n=240Cited 131×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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