Abstract
The creation of successful interventions to enhance university students' eating habits may be aided by an understanding of the potential
relationship between food consumption and academic accomplishment. This essay investigates how Ramadan affects Muslim university
students' academic performance at NBU, Arar, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was carried out by using an online administered
questionnaire. The target sample was college students in Saudi Arabia. Utilizing the Social Sciences Statistical Package, data was gathered
and examined (SPSS). The study included 445 participants, 78.9% of them were females and 21.1% were males. 98.9% of students fast
during Ramadan. 87.4% go to university while fasting. 73% feel sleepy while fasting. 82.5% feel tired and exhausted while fasting. 73.7%
feel a headache while fasting. 82.7% reported that fasting affects focus while studying (17.2% positively and 82.8% negatively). 72.6%
reported that fasting affects their performance in tests (17.3% positively and 82.7% negatively). The result of tests performed while fasting
was reported positive in 24.7% and negative in 44.7%. Fasting affects the academic performance of college students causing headaches,
exhaustion, and disturbance of sleep schedule. However, most participants reported that fasting affects focus and performance on exams
while studying (negatively more than positively).
Keywords: Fasting, Ramadan, Academic performance, Cognition