Fasting in children may cause nutritional deficiencies, hamper cognitive development

Islamabad: Frequent fasting in children below 11 or 12 years of age may cause serious complications affecting the child’s physical and mental growth because a child requires adequate nutrition for physical and cognitive development and skipping meals while fasting may cause nutrient deficiencies and hamper their ability to think and reason.

Many health experts say that regular fasting in children particularly below twelve years of age for a month in the holy month of Ramazan may not be recommended medically as it may cause growth-related problems in them. The frequent fasting in children can cause dehydration and hypoglycaemia (lowering of glucose in the blood) and also can affect their immunity making them more vulnerable to severe infections including diarrhoea and recurrent pneumonia.

It is important that in Islam, children are expected to begin fasting once they have reached puberty usually after the age of 12 and according to health experts, there is no need of putting the health of a child at stake due to fasting particularly when it is not an obligation.

A child needs at least 1.5 to two litres of water in a day that he cannot take if fast because of having a small stomach. Also it may not be possible for a child to take a large quantity of food or fluids at one time, at ‘Sehr’, like adults, rather he needs small but frequent meals after every three to four hours. Insufficient intake of food or fluid may affect growth of a child.

Experts say that a certain percentage of food that a child consumes is utilized by the body for growth while a portion of it is needed for activities and hence a child requires more importantly frequent intakes unlike adults. Also it is worth mentioning that the process of metabolism is faster in children than in adults. Medically it is proven that metabolic level in children needs to be normal otherwise it may weaken their immunity. Example of it is that malnourished children are more prone to have infections.

Research has shown that the brain operates at a heightened metabolic rate, primarily relying on the oxidative utilization of glucose. The brain function can be impacted by glucose deprivation, under hypoglycaemic conditions and even minor fluctuations in central glucose availability can influence neural and thus cognitive performance.

Studies also reveal that maintaining a more stable glycaemic profile, avoiding drastic peaks and troughs in circulating glucose, is associated with sustained cognitive function and a reduced risk of cognitive impairments. An optimal supply of glucose to the brain is crucial for maintaining cognitive functions.

In our society, children below 12 years of age do fast off and on following their passion and in most of the cases, parents encourage the practice. Experts say that the practice should be discouraged, as Islamic fasting becomes an obligation on a Muslim when he or she reaches adulthood. Experts say that observation of a single fast by a child and that too above 10 or 11 years of age could be managed for the sake of satisfaction of the child and his or her parents but that too needs extra care. Parents should ensure that the child remains active and alert while fasting. If the child shows signs of dehydration, such as lethargy, dry mouth and decreased urine output, fasting should be terminated.