Page 2 - JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT SUPPLEMENT: SEPTEMBER 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021, SUPPLEMENT, JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
SEPTEMBER 2021, SUPPLEMENT, JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
e-­‐poster
BM108

Abstract Category: Biomedical Science
Islamic Fasting Approach on Weight Loss Intervention – Experience Through the Lens of Participants
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Johari, M. Z. , Sulaiman, N. S. , Abdullah, S. R. , Khalil, M. K. N. , Wan Mohd Zin, R. M. , Mohd Yunus, S.

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N. N. , Kamaruddin, H. , Norshamsul, N. I. , Azizul, N. H.
1 Centre for Health Communications and Informatics Research, Institute for Health Behaviour Research, National
Institutes of Health
2 Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of
Health
Introduction
Weight loss is a natural process of weight management in life but the process and effectiveness varies
from individual to individual. This study attempts to assess the effectiveness of an Islamic approach of
the sunnah fasting (Mondays and Thursday) combined with healthy plating as part of a weight loss
intervention through the views of the participants.

Method
This qualitative study takes on exploratory approach in obtaining feedback from selected participants
of the intervention. Four groups of participants (two successful and two unsuccessful) were invited in
separate Focus Group Discussions (FGD) to give their experiential feedback after completing the
intervention. FGDs were recorded verbatim and transcribed. Data was blind and axial coded before
thematically analyzed.
Result
JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
In total 21 participants were interviewed. Four themes emerged -­‐ efficacy towards intervention,
barriers and facilitators to success, support and sustainability. Participants who were success attributed
having a strong support system at home or at work and the sense of competitiveness as the main key
SUPPLEMENT: SEPTEMBER 2021
to who were successful. Similarly, the same attributes are also the reason to those who did not
succeed in losing the prescribed weight. Most suffered difficulty of at least one month to adapt to the
intervention. Sporadically in both groups stated the intervention is sustainable for a long period.

Individual motivation plays a strong role in the success or failure in weight loss.
Discussion
Islamic fasting is perceived to be a viable intervention to weight loss and its success is driven both by
individual motivation and a strong support system to be sustainable.

Keywords: weight loss, Islamic fasting, qualitative, effectiveness, sustainability

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