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Ramadan intermittent fasting induced poorer training practices during the COVID-19 lockdown: A global cross-sectional study with 5529 athletes from 110 countries

Washif JA 1 , Pyne DB 2 , Sandbakk Ø 3 , Trabelsi K 4 , Aziz AR 5 , Beaven CM 6 Show all authors , Krug I 7 , Mujika I 8 , Ammar A 9 , Chaouachi A 10 , Moussa-Chamari I 11 , Aloui A 12 , Chtourou H 12 , Farooq A 1 , Haddad M 11 , Romdhani M 12 , Salamh P 13 , Tabben M 14 , Wong DP 15 , Zerguini Y 16 , DeLang MD 17 , Taylor L 18 , Saad HB 19 , Chamari K 14

Affiliations 

  • 1 Sports Performance Division, Institut Sukan Negara Malaysia (National Sports Institute of Malaysia), 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
  • 3 Centre for Elite Sports Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian, University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
  • 4 High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • 5 Sport Science and Sport Medicine, Singapore Sport Institute, Sport Singapore, Singapore
  • 6 Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
  • 7 Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • 8 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Basque Country
  • 9 Institute of Sport Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
  • 10 Tunisian Research Laboratory, Sport Performance Optimisation, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
  • 11 Physical Education Department, College of Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
  • 12 Physical Activity, Sport & Health Research Unit (UR18JS01), National Sport Observatory, Tunis, Tunisia
  • 13 Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA
  • 14 Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Doha, Qatar
  • 15 School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
  • 16 FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence Algiers, Algeria
  • 17 Right to Dream Academy, Old Akrade, Ghana Lee Taylor
  • 18 School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University. National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM), Loughborough, United Kingdom
  • 19 Laboratoire de Recherche "insuffisance cardiaque" (LR12SP09), Hôpital Farhat HACHED, Université de Sousse, Sousse, Tunisie
Biol Sport, 2022 Oct;39(4):1103-1115.
PMID: 36247962 DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2022.117576

Abstract

Ramadan intermittent fasting during the COVID-19 lockdown (RIFL) may present unique demands. We investigated training practices (i.e., training load and training times) of athletes, using pre-defined survey criteria/questions, during the 'first' COVID-19 lockdown, comparing RIFL to lockdown-alone (LD) in Muslim athletes. Specifically, a within-subject, survey-based study saw athletes (n = 5,529; from 110 countries/territories) training practices (comparing RIFL to LD) explored by comparative variables of: sex; age; continent; athlete classification (e.g., world-class); sport classification (e.g., endurance); athlete status (e.g., professional); and level of training knowledge and beliefs/attitudes (ranked as: good/moderate/poor). During RIFL (compared to LD), athlete perceptions (ranges presented given variety of comparative variables) of their training load decreased (46-62%), were maintained (31-48%) or increased (2-13%). Decreases (≥ 5%, p < 0.05) affected more athletes aged 30-39 years than those 18-29 years (60 vs 55%); more national than international athletes (59 vs 51%); more team sports than precision sports (59 vs 46%); more North American than European athletes (62 vs 53%); more semi-professional than professional athletes (60 vs 54%); more athletes who rated their beliefs/attitudes 'good' compared to 'poor' and 'moderate' (61 vs 54 and 53%, respectively); and more athletes with 'moderate' than 'poor' knowledge (58 vs 53%). During RIFL, athletes had different strategies for training times, with 13-29% training twice a day (i.e., afternoon and night), 12-26% at night only, and 18-36% in the afternoon only, with ranges depending on the comparative variables. Training loads and activities were altered negatively during RIFL compared to LD. It would be prudent for decision-makers responsible for RIFL athletes to develop programs to support athletes during such challenges.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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