Don’t take it for granted, these are 6 causes of weight gain during fasting

Ramadan fasting is often a place to lose weight. However, what happens if you actually gain weight while fasting? Check out the various possible causes in the following review.
Causes of Weight Gain During Fasting
Fasting is a frequent moment Some people use it to lose weight. However, what if the opposite happened? Apparently, there is a reason behind this.
Here are some possible weight gain during fasting, including:
1. Excessive Eating Portions when Breaking the Fast
Overeating when breaking the fast can be one of the causes of weight gain during fasting. Moreover, the type of food consumed contains carbohydrates and fats in large quantities.
Carbohydrates are the largest source of energy, while fat is a substance that contains high calories. If consumed more than the amount needed, both can make the body store it as fat. This is what ultimately triggers weight gain.
Therefore, control the type and portion of food during sahur and breaking the fast, both heavy meals and snacks.
2. Wrong Choice of Food and Snacks Consumed
Don’t be lazy to serve healthy food. The reason is, the type of food consumed can be a trigger for weight gain during fasting.
When choosing the iftar menu, some people might choose fast food because of their hunger. Not only heavy food, snacks are also often randomly chosen for ‘revenge’.
In fact, foods such as fried foods, fast food, processed foods, can make you gain weight during fasting. Not only that, snacks that are high in calories, sugar, and fat also contribute to weight gain.
Therefore, if you often consume these types of food and snacks, stop this habit immediately.
Alternatively, you can eat healthier foods and snacks, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, nuts and seeds, vegetables and fruits.
Also Read: Don’t get confused, these are 5 dangers of overeating when breaking the fast
3. Eat Too Fast
Fasting should be the right time to adjust your diet to be healthier. The reason is, you have to manage energy to stay fit during the day, even without eating and drinking.
Unfortunately, most people go crazy when it’s time to break the fast. In fact, the brain takes at least 20 minutes to send signals of fullness to the body.
Therefore, eating too fast will make you tend to overeat. If left unchecked, this can cause weight gain during fasting.
4. Sleep Immediately After Dinner or After Sahur
Because it is so difficult to endure drowsiness, most people will sleep right after dinner or eating sahur. Even though it seems trivial, this action can be the cause of weight gain during fasting.
When you choose to go straight to bed after eating, your body’s metabolism becomes slower, making it difficult to digest the food you just consumed.
These conditions make the nutrients in food directly stored as body energy reserves in the form of fat. This is what makes you gain weight.
So, try to give a break of at least 2-3 hours after eating. This applies to dinner when breaking the fast and at dawn.
5. Rarely Exercise
Weakness from not eating and drinking all day should not be the reason you postpone exercise. The reason is, exercise during the month of Ramadan can help the body stay fit, the mind remains clear, and the metabolism is maintained.
Conversely, if you rarely exercise or are less active, this can trigger weight gain during fasting.
Choose exercise with light to moderate intensity. Remember, your body is dehydrated so it will use fat reserves as a source of energy.
In addition, also pay attention to the time of exercise. You can exercise at least 90 minutes before iftar time or after dinner after tarawih prayers.
Also Read: 7 Tips So That You Don’t Lose Weight During Fasting
6. Not Getting Enough Rest
One thing that is often overlooked is the lack of sleep. In fact, this can lead to weight gain or obesity.
Research shows that people who are sleep deprived tend to eat more calories, prefer fatty foods and move less. So, even if you have to get up early for sahur, try to get enough rest.
Now, those are some habits that can cause weight gain during fasting. So that fasting worship continues smoothly without worry weight gain, be sure to avoid the habits described above.
- Anonymous. 2020. Gaining Weight While Fasting for Ramadan Instead of Losing It? Here are Some Reasons Why. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/incel-terrorism-charges-isolating-in-the-arctic-ocean-ramadan-weight-gain-a-diy-robot-dog-and-more-1.5578430/ gaining-weight-while-fasting-for-ramadan-instead-of-losing-it-here-are-some-reasons-why-1.5578444. (Accessed 16 February 2023).
- Palsdottir, Hrefna. 2019. Does Eating Fast Make You Gain More Weight? https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-fast-causes-weight-gain. (Accessed 16 February 2023).
- Prideaux, Sophie. 2022. The Best Time to Exercise When Fasting for Ramadan. https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/when-is-the-best-time-to-exercise-when-fasting-for-ramadan-1.861256. (Accessed 16 February 2023).
- Sunter, Nicola. 2022. Can Lack of Sleep Cause Weight Gain? https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/articles/insomnia/sleep-and-weight-gain/. (Accessed 16 February 2023).
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