Moosan Phrarajvarjirayanamethi Chatchai, Suklaew Phim On, Chusak Charoonsri, Kaewpradup Thanaporn, Kamonsuwan Kritmongkhon, Adisakwattana Sirichai
Faculty of Education, Mahamakut Buddhist University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
Department of Home Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 14;15(1):25353. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-11309-y.
Buddhist ordination involves significant lifestyle changes including meal timing, diet, and sleep patterns, yet short-term physiological effects remain poorly understood. This study examined effects of two-week ordination on dietary intake, body composition, and sleep quality in newly ordained Thai Dhammayut monks. Fifty-two participants (mean age 30.03 ± 1.13 years; BMI 26.70 ± 0.46 kg/m²) underwent assessments at baseline, one week, and two weeks post-ordination. While total energy intake remained stable, macronutrient composition shifted significantly: protein decreased > 20%, sugar nearly doubled, and fiber increased substantially. Body composition improved with reductions in weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference. Muscle mass modestly decreased while body fat percentage and visceral fat remained stable. Sleep quality improved significantly, particularly sleep latency and subjective restfulness, despite unchanged efficiency. Findings suggest Buddhist ordination may produce beneficial short-term physiological adaptations similar to time-restricted eating. Though improvements in abdominal adiposity and sleep quality were observed, declining muscle mass highlights nutritional adequacy concerns. Monastic routines may provide culturally appropriate frameworks for structured lifestyle interventions.
佛教受戒涉及生活方式的重大改变，包括用餐时间、饮食和睡眠模式，但短期生理影响仍知之甚少。本研究调查了新受戒的泰国法相应部派僧侣进行两周受戒对饮食摄入、身体成分和睡眠质量的影响。52名参与者（平均年龄30.03±1.13岁；体重指数26.70±0.46kg/m²）在受戒前、受戒后一周和两周接受评估。虽然总能量摄入保持稳定，但宏量营养素组成发生了显著变化：蛋白质减少>20%，糖分几乎翻倍，纤维大幅增加。身体成分得到改善，体重、体重指数、腰围和臀围均有所下降。肌肉量略有减少，而体脂百分比和内脏脂肪保持稳定。睡眠质量显著改善，尤其是睡眠潜伏期和主观休息程度，尽管睡眠效率没有变化。研究结果表明，佛教受戒可能会产生有益的短期生理适应，类似于限时进食。尽管观察到腹部肥胖和睡眠质量有所改善，但肌肉量下降凸显了营养充足性问题。寺院生活常规可能为结构化生活方式干预提供符合文化背景的框架。
