Study backs high-fat diet for pregnant women who fast during Ramadan

German researchers report clear association between maternal fasting and reduced birthweight in Muslim women.
Rachel Fieldhouse

Pregnant women who fast during Ramadan are more likely to give birth to smaller babies, but switching to a high-fat diet could mitigate that risk, German researchers report. 

In their study of 326 Muslim women whose pregnancies overlapped with the month of Ramadan in 2017, they found a clear association between maternal fasting and reduced birthweight, particularly during the first trimester.