Religious fasting twice a week could reshape gut health and curb appetite in obesity
NCT ID NCT07703865
First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether a traditional Islamic practice—fasting from dawn to sunset every Monday and Thursday for 8 weeks—can improve gut health, appetite control, and body composition in obese adult men. Participants follow the fast without any other diet changes, while researchers measure gut bacteria byproducts, hunger hormones, and body fat. The goal is to see if this culturally rooted fasting pattern offers health benefits beyond weight loss alone.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Monday-Thursday Sunnah dry fasting (no food or water from dawn to sunset, ~13 hours, twice weekly for 8 weeks)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this religiously motivated fasting pattern could offer a sustainable, culturally acceptable way to improve gut health and manage weight in obese men.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early study without blinding or randomization, so results may not be reliable or generalizable. The dry fasting may also pose risks like dehydration or electrolyte imbalance.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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74 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2025
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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19 years and older
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male, age ≥ 19 years * BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (Asia-Pacific obesity criteria) * Waist circumference \> 90 cm * No regular intermittent fasting practice in the prior month * No antibiotic use in the prior month * Not currently enrolled in any dietary or weight loss program * Muslim and willing to perform Monday-Thursday Sunnah fasting * Residing in DKI Jakarta and surrounding areas (Bogor, Depok, Tangerang) Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus on oral antidiabetic agents, insulin, or GLP-1 receptor agonists * Coronary heart disease * Chronic kidney disease * Uncontrolled hypertension * Regular use of probiotics, prebiotics, fiber supplements, omega-3, or herbal supplements * Regular use of lipid-lowering agents, orlistat, appetite suppressants, or hormonal medications * Excessive alcohol consumption * Vegetarian diet * Active smoker
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Faculty of Medicine and Health, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta
South Tangerang, Banten, 15419, Indonesia
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