Binge Eating Behaviors in Muslim Women During Ramadan Fasting

Although food restriction is associated with binge-eating symptoms (Herman & Mack, 1975; Dakanalis et al., 2014), less is known about the effect of religious fasting. During the holy month of Ramadan, many Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Hasan et al. (2021) suggested that in Muslim-minority countries where fasting is less common, Ramadan fasting could be associated with negative consequences related to eating and body image, such as increased preoccupation with appearance and food. At the same time, religiosity might also function as a protective factor against mental health symptoms (Mussap, 2009). To my knowledge, no studies have examined the impact of Ramadan fasting on eating-disorder outcomes in the United States. I thus recruited N = 56 Muslim women who completed baseline and weekly questionnaires assessing religious fasting and mental health symptoms before, during, and after Ramadan. Results were analyzed using paired t tests in which symptoms were investigated across time periods - before, during, and after Ramadan, as well as a multiple regression analysis. I hypothesized that binge eating symptoms would be higher during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan, general eating disorder symptoms would be higher during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan, there would be a positive significant relationship between days fasted and binge eating symptoms during Ramadan, depression symptoms would be lower during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan, and anxiety symptoms would be lower during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan. Results show that Ramadan fasting was associated with a statistically significant decrease in binge eating, change in eating disorder, and anxiety symptoms; but no significant changes in depression symptoms. There might be protective factors that buffer against ED symptoms. Future studies should investigate these mechanisms to enhance the wellbeing of this population.