Nutrition expert Dr. Sara Abdel Ghani confirmed that "eating very little food during Ramadan will slow down the metabolic process and put the body under stress." She warned that "when the human body does not receive enough food, it enters what is called 'starvation mode' and decreases the metabolic rate to ensure that its physiological functions work normally." Dr. Sara added that "some people during the fasting month focus on starting their weight loss journey or improving their dietary habits, but one of the mistakes some may make is not balancing their meals and meeting their required daily nutritional intake."
She explained that "medical research has shown that not getting enough food forces the metabolism to slow down in order to survive. Extreme diets, especially when combined with intense exercise, train the body to cling to the few calories it receives, making weight loss more difficult."
Regarding side effects, she noted that "reducing food intake during Ramadan can lead to decreased energy levels, headaches, dehydration, sleep disturbances, changes in bowel movements (such as constipation), and increased feelings of hunger."
