TY - JOUR
T1 - Ramadan intermittent fasting induced poorer training practices during the COVID-19 lockdown
T2 - A global cross-sectional study with 5529 athletes from 110 countries
AU - Washif, Jad Adrian
AU - Pyne, David B
AU - Sandbakk, Øyvind
AU - Trabelsi, Khaled
AU - Aziz, Abdul Rashid
AU - Beaven, Christopher Martyn
AU - Krug, Isabel
AU - Mujika, Iñigo
AU - Ammar, Achraf
AU - Chaouachi, Anis
AU - Moussa-Chamari, Imen
AU - Aloui, Asma
AU - Chtourou, Hamdi
AU - Farooq, Abdulaziz
AU - Haddad, Monoem
AU - Romdhani, Mohamed
AU - Salamh, Paul
AU - Tabben, Montassar
AU - Wong, Del P
AU - Zerguini, Yacine
AU - DeLang, Matthew D
AU - Taylor, Lee
AU - Saad, Helmi Ben
AU - Chamari, Karim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Institute of Sport. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Crowdsource data
KW - Global sports
KW - Remote training
KW - Training load
KW - Training perception
KW - Vulnerable athletes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140726928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5114/biolsport.2022.117576
DO - 10.5114/biolsport.2022.117576
M3 - Article
C2 - 36247962
SN - 0860-021X
VL - 39
SP - 1103
EP - 1115
JO - Biology of Sport
JF - Biology of Sport
IS - 4
ER -