Health: Fasting and sports performance

The 2012 London Olympics falls during the fasting month and Muslim athletes are concerned about the effect it will have on their performance, writes SUZANNA PILLAY
HOW does fasting affect an athlete’s performance? The answer is a complex one, says Dr Ahmad Munir Che Muhamed, chairman of National Coaching Board.

But the topic is important to Muslim athletes worldwide, he says, as the 2012 London Olympics will be held during the fasting month from July 27 to Aug 12.


“With the London Olympics 2012 being held during the fasting month, the topic of fasting is of interest to Muslim athletes and the sports science community. Many are concerned that Muslim athletes will be at a disadvantage because they will fast throughout the event.”

Many coaches and athletes share the general perception that fasting will have a negative effect on sports performance.

During Ramadan, Muslim athletes will refrain from fluid and food intake between the hours of sunrise and sunset, with an average fasting period of between 12 and 15 hours, depending on location (latitude) and timing of the month.


The general perception on exercise during Ramadan is that there will be increased physiological strain during exercise, reduction in capacity to perform submaxial exercise for an extended period of time, reduction in the cognitive function and motor control and a decline in sport performance.

“Athletes are particularly concerned about dehydration which, even at a mild level, has been proven to have adverse effects on their performance,” says Dr Ahmad.

He adds although both athletes and coaches harboured this negative perception about fasting affecting an athlete’s performance negatively, there was little supporting scientific evidence so far.


“Various studies have shown that fasting during Ramadan has no significant effect on sports performance and variables, such as total energy intake, body composition, cellular and biochemical properties of blood.”

Other concerns raised are the changes in eating habits, sleep patterns, reduction in energy reserves, timing of testing done and fitness levels of subjects.

“Not surprisingly both groups would like to know whether training intensity can be maintained with fasting and what health concerns can surface when training or competing.”

To better tolerate training while having to fast, he says athletes should increase their overall physical conditioning prior to Ramadan, while coaches should alter the training programme to accommodate the expected changes in the sleep-wake cycle of the athlete.

In the research of Reilly and Waterhouse (2007) on Circadian rhythms during Ramadan, athletes reported having a lower quality sleep time, which resulted in a decrease in the willingness to train.

Ensuring that a fasting athlete maintains a good nutritional intake despite the change in meal time is another important step for coaches to follow.
As a general rule, eat sahur (morning) as a lunch portion, iftar (breaking of fast) as a dinner portion and morae (after tarawih) as supper. Delay sahur as late as possible.



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