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Ramadan fasting causes many to gain weight
Several years ago, I had the good fortune to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Morocco, and was surprised to see how devout Muslims made the sun-up to sun-down fasting more bearable.
At my university, students would stay up all hours of the night, eating, smoking, and playing soccer, and would sleep as much as possible while the sun was up-- when they couldn't eat.
At sunset, we all sat down for a meal called iftar, literally "break-fast," where generous portions of delicious traditional food was served. I was surprised to hear from my Moroccan friends that some people actually gain weight during this month of fasting, as a result of overindulging during iftar and at night.
[Over at National Geographic News, they've put together a short video about the dangers of overeating during Ramadan; go ahead, take a look.]
Lest this should all sound much too pleasant and not at all like a sacrifice, I urge you to give fasting a shot. As one who's tried it many times (and succeeded only occasionally), I can assure you it's quite a bit harder than it sounds. Sadly, yesterday marked the end of Ramadan, the Eid al-Fitr, so you may have to wait till next year, when Ramadan starts on August 22.
Any Ramadan-observers out there have experience with gaining weight during the holy month?
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Morocco
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Famin Oct 12th 2008 8:35PM
Yes--happens to me every year and I've been fasting since I was five years old. I've never lived anywhere where they have the all night foodfests though; and most of my life I've lived in non-Muslim countries like the U.S. where I'm the only person fasting in the office. I don't know how these people have all-night food feasts though because my stomach shrinks after a day of fasting and I can't eat more than a fourth of a serving of dinner at Iftar. But I think the reason I gain weight is because my body goes into starvation mode and clings to every calorie like it might be the last! And then I really gain weight after Eid!