Changes in Subjective and Objective Measures of Performance in Ramadan
The Muslim faith requires individuals to fast between
the hours of sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. Our
recent work has concentrated on some of the changes that take place
during the daytime when fasting. A questionnaire was developed to
assess subjective estimates of physical, mental and social activities,
and fatigue. Four days were studied: in the weeks before and after
Ramadan (control days) and during the first and last weeks of
Ramadan (experimental days). On each of these four days, this
questionnaire was given several times during the daytime and once
after the fast had been broken and just before individuals retired at
night.
During Ramadan, daytime mental, physical and social activities
all decreased below control values but then increased to abovecontrol
values in the evening. The desires to perform physical and
mental activities showed very similar patterns. That is, individuals
tried to conserve energy during the daytime in preparation for the
evenings when they ate and drank, often with friends. During
Ramadan also, individuals were more fatigued in the daytime and
napped more often than on control days. This extra fatigue probably
reflected decreased sleep, individuals often having risen earlier
(before sunrise, to prepare for fasting) and retired later (to enable
recovery from the fast).
Some physiological measures and objective measures of
performance (including the response to a bout of exercise) have also
been investigated. Urine osmolality fell during the daytime on
control days as subjects drank, but rose in Ramadan to reach values
at sunset indicative of dehydration. Exercise performance was also
compromised, particularly late in the afternoon when the fast had
lasted several hours. Self-chosen exercise work-rates fell and a set
amount of exercise felt more arduous. There were also changes in
heart rate and lactate accumulation in the blood, indicative of greater
cardiovascular and metabolic stress caused by the exercise in
subjects who had been fasting. Daytime fasting in Ramadan produces
widespread effects which probably reflect combined effects of sleep
loss and restrictions to intakes of water and food.
[1] H. Alabed, (The Effects of Fasting for a Single Day and During
Ramadan upon Performance). PhD thesis, Liverpool John Moores
University, Liverpool, UK. 2010.
[2] J. Waterhouse, L. Alkib, B. Edwards, and T. Reilly, (Diurnal changes in
sleep, food and fluid intakes, and activity during Ramadan), 2006, in the
UK some preliminary observations. Biological Rhythm Research, 39:
2008a, pp. 449-469.
[3] J. Waterhouse, L. Alkib, B. Edwards, and T. Reilly, (Effects of Ramadan
upon Fluid and Food Intake, Fatigue, and Physical, Mental, and Social
Activities) A Comparison between the UK and Libya. Chronobiology
International, 25, 2008b, pp. 697-724.
[4] J. Waterhouse, H. Alabed, B. Edwards, and T. Reilly, (Changes in sleep,
mood and subjective and objective responses to physical performance
during the daytime in Ramadan). Biological Rhythm Research. 40:
2009,pp. 1 - 17.
[5] B. J. Edwards, and J. Waterhouse, (Effects of one night of partial sleep
deprivation upon diurnal rhythm of accuracy and consistency in
throwing darts). Chronobiology International, 26: 2009, pp. 1-15.
[6] B. Edwards, B. Waterhouse, G. Atkinson, and T. Reilly, (Effects of time
of day and distance upon accuracy and consistency of throwing darts).
Journal of Sports Sciences. 25: 2007, pp. 1531-8.
[7] S. Folkard, (Circadian performance rhythms: Some practical and
theoretical considerations). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal
Society of London B, 327: 1990, pp. 543-553.
[8] J. Waterhouse, D. Minors, T. Akerstedt, T. Reilly, and G. Atkinson,
Rhythms in human performance. In: Takahashi J, Turek F, Moore R,
editors. Circadian clocks. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum
Publishers, 2001, pp. 571-601.
[9] T. Reilly, G. Atkinson, and J. Waterhouse, (Biological Rhythms and
Exercise). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1997.
[10] J. Bland, and D. Altman, (Calculation correlation coefficients with
repeated observations). Part 1-correlation within subjects. British
Medical Journal. 1995, pp. 310- 446.
[11] F. Hakkou, A. Tazi, and L. Iraki, (Ramadan, health and Chronobiology).
Chronobiology International, 11: 1994, pp. 340-342.
[12] J. De Castro. (Circadian rhythms of the spontaneous meal pattern,
macronutrient intake, and mood of human). Physiology and Behavior;
40: 1987, pp. 437-446.
[13] J. Waterhouse, B. Edwards, T. Reilly, (A comparison of eating habits
between retired or semi-retired aged subjects and younger subjects in
full-time work). Biol. Rhythm Res. 36:2005, pp.185-218.
[14] N. Kadri, A. Tilane, M. El Batal, Y. Taltit, S. Tahiri, and D. Moussaoui,
(Irritability during the month of Ramadan). Psychosomatic Medicine, 62:
2000, pp. 280-285.
[15] N. Karaagaoglu, and S. Yucecan, (Some behavioural changes observed
among fasting subjects, their nutritional habits and energy expenditure in
Ramadan). International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 51:
2000, pp. 125-134.
[16] J. Leiper, A. Molla, and A. Molla, (Effects on health of fluid restriction
during fasting in Ramadan). European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57
Suppl. 2: 2003, pp. S30-S38.
[17] R. Roky, L. Iraki, R. Hajkhlifa, G. Lakhdar, N. hazal, and F. Hakkou,
(Daytime alertness, mood, psychomotor performances, and oral
temperature during Ramadan intermittent fasting.) Annals of Nutrition
and Metabolism, 44: 2000, pp. 101-107.
[18] J. De Castro, (Socio-cultural determinants of meal size and frequency).
British Journal of Nutrition, 77(Suppl. 1), 1997, pp. S39-S55.
[19] J. De Castro, (Eating behaviour: lessons from the real world of human).
Nutrition, 16: 2000, pp. 800-813.
[20] T. Reilly, and J. Waterhouse, (Altered sleep-wake cycles and food
intake): the Ramadan model. Physiology and Behavior, 90: 2007, pp.
219-228.
[21] D. A. Judelson, C. M. Maresh, L. E. Anderson, D. J. Casa, W. J.
Kraemer, and J. S. Volek, (Hydration on Muscular Performance).
Journal of Sports Medicine, 37: 2007, pp. 907-921
[22] T. Reilly, and J. Waterhouse, (Sports performance: is there evidence that
the body clock plays a role) European Journal Applied of Physiology.
106: 2009,pp. 321-332
[23] G. E. Adam, R. Carter, S. N. Cheuvront, D. J. Merullo, J. W. Castelloni,
H. R. Lieberman, and M. N. Sawka, (Hydration effects on cognitive
performance during military tasks in temperate and cold environments).
Physiology and Behaviour, 93: 2008, pp. 748-756.
[24] J. Waterhouse, (Effects of Ramadan on physical performance).
Chronobiological considerations. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44:
2010, pp.509-515.
[1] H. Alabed, (The Effects of Fasting for a Single Day and During
Ramadan upon Performance). PhD thesis, Liverpool John Moores
University, Liverpool, UK. 2010.
[2] J. Waterhouse, L. Alkib, B. Edwards, and T. Reilly, (Diurnal changes in
sleep, food and fluid intakes, and activity during Ramadan), 2006, in the
UK some preliminary observations. Biological Rhythm Research, 39:
2008a, pp. 449-469.
[3] J. Waterhouse, L. Alkib, B. Edwards, and T. Reilly, (Effects of Ramadan
upon Fluid and Food Intake, Fatigue, and Physical, Mental, and Social
Activities) A Comparison between the UK and Libya. Chronobiology
International, 25, 2008b, pp. 697-724.
[4] J. Waterhouse, H. Alabed, B. Edwards, and T. Reilly, (Changes in sleep,
mood and subjective and objective responses to physical performance
during the daytime in Ramadan). Biological Rhythm Research. 40:
2009,pp. 1 - 17.
[5] B. J. Edwards, and J. Waterhouse, (Effects of one night of partial sleep
deprivation upon diurnal rhythm of accuracy and consistency in
throwing darts). Chronobiology International, 26: 2009, pp. 1-15.
[6] B. Edwards, B. Waterhouse, G. Atkinson, and T. Reilly, (Effects of time
of day and distance upon accuracy and consistency of throwing darts).
Journal of Sports Sciences. 25: 2007, pp. 1531-8.
[7] S. Folkard, (Circadian performance rhythms: Some practical and
theoretical considerations). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal
Society of London B, 327: 1990, pp. 543-553.
[8] J. Waterhouse, D. Minors, T. Akerstedt, T. Reilly, and G. Atkinson,
Rhythms in human performance. In: Takahashi J, Turek F, Moore R,
editors. Circadian clocks. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum
Publishers, 2001, pp. 571-601.
[9] T. Reilly, G. Atkinson, and J. Waterhouse, (Biological Rhythms and
Exercise). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1997.
[10] J. Bland, and D. Altman, (Calculation correlation coefficients with
repeated observations). Part 1-correlation within subjects. British
Medical Journal. 1995, pp. 310- 446.
[11] F. Hakkou, A. Tazi, and L. Iraki, (Ramadan, health and Chronobiology).
Chronobiology International, 11: 1994, pp. 340-342.
[12] J. De Castro. (Circadian rhythms of the spontaneous meal pattern,
macronutrient intake, and mood of human). Physiology and Behavior;
40: 1987, pp. 437-446.
[13] J. Waterhouse, B. Edwards, T. Reilly, (A comparison of eating habits
between retired or semi-retired aged subjects and younger subjects in
full-time work). Biol. Rhythm Res. 36:2005, pp.185-218.
[14] N. Kadri, A. Tilane, M. El Batal, Y. Taltit, S. Tahiri, and D. Moussaoui,
(Irritability during the month of Ramadan). Psychosomatic Medicine, 62:
2000, pp. 280-285.
[15] N. Karaagaoglu, and S. Yucecan, (Some behavioural changes observed
among fasting subjects, their nutritional habits and energy expenditure in
Ramadan). International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 51:
2000, pp. 125-134.
[16] J. Leiper, A. Molla, and A. Molla, (Effects on health of fluid restriction
during fasting in Ramadan). European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57
Suppl. 2: 2003, pp. S30-S38.
[17] R. Roky, L. Iraki, R. Hajkhlifa, G. Lakhdar, N. hazal, and F. Hakkou,
(Daytime alertness, mood, psychomotor performances, and oral
temperature during Ramadan intermittent fasting.) Annals of Nutrition
and Metabolism, 44: 2000, pp. 101-107.
[18] J. De Castro, (Socio-cultural determinants of meal size and frequency).
British Journal of Nutrition, 77(Suppl. 1), 1997, pp. S39-S55.
[19] J. De Castro, (Eating behaviour: lessons from the real world of human).
Nutrition, 16: 2000, pp. 800-813.
[20] T. Reilly, and J. Waterhouse, (Altered sleep-wake cycles and food
intake): the Ramadan model. Physiology and Behavior, 90: 2007, pp.
219-228.
[21] D. A. Judelson, C. M. Maresh, L. E. Anderson, D. J. Casa, W. J.
Kraemer, and J. S. Volek, (Hydration on Muscular Performance).
Journal of Sports Medicine, 37: 2007, pp. 907-921
[22] T. Reilly, and J. Waterhouse, (Sports performance: is there evidence that
the body clock plays a role) European Journal Applied of Physiology.
106: 2009,pp. 321-332
[23] G. E. Adam, R. Carter, S. N. Cheuvront, D. J. Merullo, J. W. Castelloni,
H. R. Lieberman, and M. N. Sawka, (Hydration effects on cognitive
performance during military tasks in temperate and cold environments).
Physiology and Behaviour, 93: 2008, pp. 748-756.
[24] J. Waterhouse, (Effects of Ramadan on physical performance).
Chronobiological considerations. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44:
2010, pp.509-515.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:49286", author = "H. Alabed and K. Abuzayan and J. Waterhouse", title = "Changes in Subjective and Objective Measures of Performance in Ramadan", abstract = "The Muslim faith requires individuals to fast between
the hours of sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. Our
recent work has concentrated on some of the changes that take place
during the daytime when fasting. A questionnaire was developed to
assess subjective estimates of physical, mental and social activities,
and fatigue. Four days were studied: in the weeks before and after
Ramadan (control days) and during the first and last weeks of
Ramadan (experimental days). On each of these four days, this
questionnaire was given several times during the daytime and once
after the fast had been broken and just before individuals retired at
night.
During Ramadan, daytime mental, physical and social activities
all decreased below control values but then increased to abovecontrol
values in the evening. The desires to perform physical and
mental activities showed very similar patterns. That is, individuals
tried to conserve energy during the daytime in preparation for the
evenings when they ate and drank, often with friends. During
Ramadan also, individuals were more fatigued in the daytime and
napped more often than on control days. This extra fatigue probably
reflected decreased sleep, individuals often having risen earlier
(before sunrise, to prepare for fasting) and retired later (to enable
recovery from the fast).
Some physiological measures and objective measures of
performance (including the response to a bout of exercise) have also
been investigated. Urine osmolality fell during the daytime on
control days as subjects drank, but rose in Ramadan to reach values
at sunset indicative of dehydration. Exercise performance was also
compromised, particularly late in the afternoon when the fast had
lasted several hours. Self-chosen exercise work-rates fell and a set
amount of exercise felt more arduous. There were also changes in
heart rate and lactate accumulation in the blood, indicative of greater
cardiovascular and metabolic stress caused by the exercise in
subjects who had been fasting. Daytime fasting in Ramadan produces
widespread effects which probably reflect combined effects of sleep
loss and restrictions to intakes of water and food.", keywords = "Drinking, Eating, Mental Performance, Physical
Performance, Social Activity, Sleepiness.", volume = "7", number = "5", pages = "1095-10", }