COMPARISON OF BODY MASS INDEX, SLEEP QUALITY, AND FATIGUE AMONG YOUNG MUSLIM ADULTS PRE- AND POST-RAMADAN: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: Ramadan fasting alters meal timing, sleep-wake schedules and daily activity, and may influence body weight, sleep quality and perceived fatigue. Young adults and students may be particularly susceptible because fasting is superimposed on academic routines and altered nocturnal schedules. The aim is to compare body mass index (BMI), sleep quality and fatigue among young Muslim adults before and after Ramadan fasting. Materials and Methods: This prospective pre-post observational study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Government Medical College Baramulla. Healthy Muslim students aged 18-24 years who intended to fast and provided written informed consent were eligible. The planned sample size was approximately 100. A total of 154 participants completed both pre- and post-Ramadan assessments. Twenty-six participants who did not fast during Ramadan were excluded according to the predefined inclusion criteria, and 128 fasting participants were included. Weight and height were recorded and BMI was calculated. Sleep was assessed using the Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), while fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Pre- and post-Ramadan values were compared using paired-samples t-tests, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the 128 participants was 19.62±1.20 years; 65 (50.8%) were female and 63 (49.2%) were male. Mean body weight decreased from 64.38±12.59 kg to 62.84±12.69 kg (mean change -1.55 kg; p<0.001), and BMI decreased from 22.92±3.54 to 22.36±3.64 kg/m² (p<0.001). Mean FOSQ score decreased from 32.02±6.93 to 30.43±7.09 (p=0.003), while the Global PSQI score increased from 7.12±3.46 to 7.95±3.73 (p=0.005), indicating poorer sleep quality. FSS scores showed no significant change (5.15±0.99 vs 5.08±1.07; p=0.298). Conclusion: Ramadan fasting among young adults was associated with a modest but statistically significant reduction in body weight and BMI and with deterioration in subjective sleep quality and sleep-related functional status. Fatigue severity did not change significantly. Sleep-health counselling and attention to adequate nocturnal sleep may help students preserve well-being during Ramadan.