Comparing the body mass index, blood pressure and blood biochemical changes during Ramadan between high to moderate level and low level physical activity groups prior to Ramadan among overweight and obese working women

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle are among the most certain causes of overweight and obesity and vice versa, increased physical activity is among the most certain means to reduce body weight in most overweight and obese cases. The objective of the study was to compare the blood pressure, blood lipid profile (i.e. total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C)) and triglyceride (TG) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) changes during Ramadan between those with ‘high to moderate level’ of physical activity and those with ‘low physical activity’ before Ramadan. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study carried out during Ramadan. The respondent’s level of physical activity prior to Ramadan was determined by using the metabolic equivalent score (METs) calculated by using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). METs score >600 were categorized as ‘high to moderate level’ while METs score ≤600 as ‘low level’ physical activity. BMI, blood pressure and blood biochemical levels were measured before and during Ramadan. Results: 140 respondents were recruited and 57.14% were in the ‘high to moderate level’ physical activity group. At baseline systolic and diastolic pressure, TC, LDL-C, TG, FBS, TC/HDL-C ratio was lower but HDL-C was higher in the ‘high to moderate level’ physical activity group. During Ramadan, HDL-C reduced and TC/HDL-C ratio increased significantly in both groups (P<0.01), TG reduced significantly only in the ‘high to moderate level’ physical activity group (P=0.02) while FBS reduced significantly only in the ‘low level’ physical activity group (P=0.04). Comparing changes between the two groups showed no significant difference. Conclusions: The positive blood biochemical changes during Ramadan were more prominent in the group who were more physically active prior to Ramadan.

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