Related Experiment Videos
Appetite changes under free-living conditions during Ramadan fasting
1Department of Consumer Sciences, Institute of Food Research, Reading, RG6 6BZ, UK.
Appetite
|October 30, 1998
Summary
During Ramadan fasting, hunger increased significantly. Women experienced higher hunger initially, possibly due to food preparation cues, while men
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Human Physiology
- Psychology
Background:
- Ramadan fasting involves daily abstention from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.
- This unique eating pattern offers insights into hunger and thirst regulation.
- Previous research has not fully explored the impact of gender and environmental cues on hunger during Ramadan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing hunger and thirst during Ramadan.
- To examine gender differences in hunger perception during fasting.
- To explore the role of environmental food cues in hunger regulation.
Main Methods:
- A group of 15 men and 26 women in the U.K. participated.
- Participants provided hourly ratings of hunger, mood, and thirst.
- Food and drink intake were recorded on days before, during, and after Ramadan (January-March 1996).
Main Results:
- No significant changes in body weight were observed during Ramadan.
- Hunger ratings increased substantially during the daily fast.
- Women reported higher hunger than men in early Ramadan; levels became similar later, indicating a gender x day interaction (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Environmental cues, particularly food preparation, may influence hunger perception during fasting.
- Women's frequent involvement in food preparation might explain their initially higher hunger ratings.
- Exposure to food cues without reinforcement may diminish their capacity to stimulate hunger over time.