Effects of Ramadan on physical capacities of North African boys fasting for the first time

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline anthropometric data of the 18 non-athlete boys fasting for the first time

	Mean±standard deviation	95% confidence interval	Minimum–maximum
Age (years)	11.87±0.77	11.49–12.26	10.16–13.39
Height (cm)	153±9	149–157	136–168
Body mass (kg)	55±17	46–63	34–91

Fig. 1 Effects of Ramadan fasting on body mass (a) and 6-min walking distance (b) of 18 non-athlete boys fasting for the first time.

Mean values are shown. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. BR: before Ramadan, R2: end of the second week of Ramadan, R4: end of the fourth week of Ramadan, AR: 10–12 days after the end of Ramadan. *p<0.05: ANOVA. (A, B) ^† p<0.05 (Wilcoxon test): BR vs. other periods; ^‡ p<0.05 (Wilcoxon test): R2 vs. R4; ^ll p<0.05 (Wilcoxon test): R4 vs. AR. (A) ^‡ p<0.05 (Wilcoxon test): R2 vs. R4. (B) ^ll p< 0.05 (Wilcoxon test): R4 vs. AR.

Table 2 Effect of Ramadan fasting on short-term exercise capacities in 18 non-athlete boys fasting for the first time

	BR	R2	R4	AR	Overall p value
Vertical jump test height (m)	0.22±0.06	0.21±0.07	0.22±0.07	0.21±0.07	0.96
Horizontal jump test distance (m)	1.20±0.18	1.18±0.22	1.14±0.21	1.20±0.22	0.24
20-m sprint time (s)	4.25±0.28	4.32±0.29	4.33±0.28	4.27±0.29	0.06
30-m sprint time (s)	6.01±0.39	5.97±0.43	5.99±0.37	5.95±0.39	0.85
Medicine-ball-throw distance (m)	3.72±0.59	3.57±0.58	3.62±0.61	3.64±0.59	0.06

Data are mean±SD, BR: before Ramadan, R2: during the end of the second week of Ramadan, R4: during the end of the fourth week of Ramadan, AR: 10–12 days after the end of Ramadan, p: ANOVA between the four testing phases.