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.