Doctor Urges Lower Exercise Intensity During Ramadan to Stay Fit

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Exercising while observing the fast during Ramadan often raises concerns, particularly about risks of dizziness and injuries. However, Dr. Ega Jaya, Sp.KFR, AIFO-K, emphasised that physical activity remains safe during Ramadan, provided the intensity is adjusted to the body’s condition. ‘Training or exercise during the Ramadan month is, in principle, safe. After all, this isn’t the first time someone has exercised while fasting,’ he said at the launch of Omron New Product: Move Better, Recover Faster with Omron TENS, in Central Jakarta, Wednesday 4 March 2026. According to him, the main key to remaining safe while exercising during fasting lies in technique and managing intensity. ‘Safe, provided it is done with good technique and intensity that is actually adjusted to the body’s capacity,’ he said. Limited intake of food and drink within a specific time window means energy reserves are not as abundant as on ordinary days. ‘Compared to when fasting and not fasting, energy levels naturally are higher when we are not fasting. Therefore, the intensity of exercise must be adjusted,’ he explained. The body needs adaptation to stay fit without exhausting energy excessively. He gave a simple adjustment example for distance or duration of exercise. ‘If normally you can run 5 kilometres, during fasting reduce to 3 kilometres first. So the intensity is reduced. The function is to keep us fit but energy is not used up immediately,’ said Dr. Ega. Reducing intensity does not mean a drastic reduction in fitness quality. Rather, this step aims to maintain consistency in exercise without tiring the body.