< formatted article >

Ramadan’s Hidden Impact: How Fasting Shapes Mental Health, Sleep, and Daily Life in Saudi Arabia

A Nation in Transition: The Ramadan Effect on Routine and Resilience

As the sun sets and the call to prayer echoes, Saudi Arabia transforms. Ramadan’s sacred rhythm—marked by long hours without food or water, later nights, and fleeting dawns—reshapes more than just nourishment. For the faithful, it is a test of endurance; for researchers, a lens into human adaptability.

A groundbreaking study, surveying over 460 adults aged 18 to 60, uncovers how fasting ripples across mental health, sleep, and eating habits nationwide. Participants shared intimate details: their moods before iftar, the quality of sleep lost to pre-dawn suhoor, and the spontaneous cravings that defy hunger itself. The findings reveal not just difference—but disparity.

The Gender Divide: Women Bear a Heavier Emotional Burden

Women reported significantly higher levels of sadness and stress, alongside a sharper decline in motivation. The causes? A complex interplay of societal roles, hormonal shifts, and the physical toll of fasting. While men’s struggles were more evenly distributed, women’s emotional well-being took a pronounced hit—suggesting that support systems may need to adapt to their unique challenges.

Age and Adaptation: The Middle Years Struggle the Most

Contrary to assumptions, it was not the youngest or oldest who faltered most, but those in their late 20s to 60s. Sleep became elusive; meals, irregular. The body’s struggle to recalibrate hit this group hardest, pointing to the need for tailored guidance—perhaps more frequent check-ins, adjusted sleep schedules, or dietary adjustments to stabilize energy.

Regional Realities: The Eastern Province’s Silent Crisis

Where one lives matters. Participants in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern region faced the steepest decline—higher stress, poorer sleep, and erratic eating. Economic activity, climate, or cultural factors may contribute, but the data underscores a pressing need: localized interventions to mitigate Ramadan’s strain on daily life.

Work, Weariness, and the Weight of Hunger

Employment added another layer of complexity. Those with jobs reported daytime fatigue and mindless snacking—eating not out of need, but habit or fatigue. The modern workplace, with its rigid schedules and social demands, clashes with Ramadan’s fluid rhythm. Could flexible hours or designated rest spaces ease the burden?

Beyond the Fast: A Call for Inclusive Support

This study is more than a dataset—it’s a mirror. Ramadan exposes vulnerabilities in mental health, sleep hygiene, and dietary discipline, but it also reveals who is most at risk. Women, middle-aged adults, and Eastern residents may need targeted programs: mental health workshops, sleep hygiene guidance, or culturally sensitive meal-planning resources.

Fasting is a personal and spiritual journey, yet its effects are far from uniform. As Saudi Arabia observes Ramadan, this research serves as a reminder: support must be as dynamic and diverse as the people it serves.