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Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation01:24

Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation

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Mass and weight are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation. For example,  medical records often show our weight in kilograms, but never in the correct units of newtons. In physics, however, there is an important distinction. Weight is the pull of the Earth on an object. It depends on the distance from the center of the Earth. Weight dramatically varies if we leave the Earth's surface, unlike mass, which does not vary with location. On the Moon, for example, the acceleration due to...
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In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Evaluation of Changes in Hydration and Body Cell Mass with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis after Exercise Program for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
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Weight change during and after Ramadan fasting.

Peter Hajek1, Katie Myers, Al-Rehan Dhanji

  • 1Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK.

Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England)
|November 16, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Ramadan fasting leads to a modest weight loss of about 1 kg over four weeks, but this weight is quickly regained. This challenges common advice against skipping meals for weight management.

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Area of Science:

  • Nutrition Science
  • Human Physiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.
  • Understanding Ramadan fasting's impact on body weight is crucial for health advice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on body weight.
  • To assess weight changes before, during, and after the fasting period.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study of body weight in observant Muslims before and after Ramadan.
  • Weight measurements were taken during the fast and one month post-fast.

Main Results:

  • Participants lost an average of 0.84 kg during Ramadan, with 46% losing over 1 kg.
  • Those fasting continuously lost more weight than those who occasionally broke fast.
  • Lost weight was regained within one month after Ramadan.

Conclusions:

  • Ramadan observers experience temporary weight loss, averaging around 1 kg.
  • The lost weight is rapidly regained, challenging the 'do not skip meals' advice.
  • Further research is needed to evaluate the 'do not skip meals' recommendation in weight management.