See other Religion Articles
Title: Praise the lard? Religion linked to obesity in young adults
Source:
msnbc
URL Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42256829/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/
Published: Mar 25, 2011
Author: Diane Mapes
Post Date: 2011-03-25 11:10:11 by abraxas
Keywords: None
Views: 309
Comments: 16
Praise the lard? Religion linked to obesity in young adults Weekly church activities boost obesity 50 percent by middle age, 18-year study shows By Diane Mapes msnbc.com contributor msnbc.com contributor updated 2 hours 45 minutes ago 2011-03-25T12:19:56 It might be the potlucks, it might be those long hours sitting in pews, but whatever the cause, a new study presented this week shows a link between religious activity and weight gain. The study, conducted by researchers at Northwestern University, found that young adults who frequently attended religious activities were far more likely to become obese than those who didn’t. “Our main finding was that people with a high frequency of religious participation in young adulthood were 50 percent more likely to become obese by middle age than those with no religious participation in young adulthood,” says Matthew Feinstein, the study’s lead investigator and a fourth-year medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “And that is true even after we adjusted for variables like age, race, gender, education, income, and baseline body mass index," he added. The study, presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association, followed 2,433 men and women starting between the ages of 20 and 32 for 18 years. Study subjects were all of normal weight at the beginning of the study. By the end, however, those who had attended a religious function at least once a week were more likely to be obese, posting a body mass index of 30 or higher. Previous research by Northwestern Medicine has found a correlation between religious involvement and obesity in middle age and older adults. Are church attendees praising the lard along with the Lord? “We didn’t look specifically at the potluck factor, but anecdotally, we know that oftentimes at these religious gatherings people will eat traditional comfort foods which are often high in fat and calories and salt,” says Feinstein. “But, again, that’s not something we looked at in this particular study.” Three kinds of potato casserole Jessica Ward, a 30-year-old notary public who regularly attends the Kent Lutheran Church, in Kent, Wash., says potlucks can definitely be filled with delicious temptation. “You don’t see a lot of fresh stuff at most church potlucks,” she says. “You’ll see spaghetti and Swedish meatballs and three or four varieties of potato casserole or green bean casserole or Jell-O salads. Plus heaps and piles of desserts — lots of pies and cakes and cookies.” Not all churches worship at the altar of sugar and salt, though. Byron Krystad, director of operations at the University Unitarian Church in nearby Seattle, says sweets aren't often on the menu. “People here are very much on the bandwagon with regard to organic foods and removing sugars and fats from their diet,” he says. “We get all sorts of feedback about what kind of snacks to have on Sunday morning during coffee hour. If somebody dares to bring out a cake, there’s an uproar about it.” Feinstein says while obesity appears to be an issue for religious people, previous studies have shown that the faithful tend to live longer, be less likely to smoke, and to have better mental health status. “The message is really an optimistic one,” he says. “Churches already have infrastructures in place, groups of people gathering regularly and providing social support. That’s hugely beneficial in implementing health intervention or implementing programs geared toward diet and physical activity."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: abraxas (#0)
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
God's going to have a hard time rapturing all their fat asses into heaven.
They have given us into the hand of new unhappy lords. Lords without anger and honor, who dare not carry their swords. They fight by shuffling papers; they have bright dead alien eyes; They look at our labor and laughter as a tired man looks at flies. - G.K. Chesterton
Piety for the porky potluck......
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
You think he might have a hard time luring them away from the potluck? Wait, Lord, just one more helping of casserole!! Wait, Lord, I haven't grazed the dessert buffet yet!! wait, Lord, Sister Sarah's green bean concoction wouldn't fit on the plate the first time through!!
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
Fat, dumb, and happy ain't so bad.
Rastus? What'n you like bestus? But... "fat drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son. Well, OUT WITH IT!" -- Dean Wormer
Democrats don't mind war as long as they can have big government. Republicans don't mind big government as long as they can have war. I thought that was funny. Most times people were all too happy to get out of those butt-numbing pews and GTFO. The last thing I ever heard anyone talk about in church was "implementing health intervention or implementing programs geared toward diet and physical activity". And I've been to a few churches. And since I've been to a few, then they're all like that... the faithful tend to live longer, be less likely to smoke, and to have better mental health status. Faithful? NOt anymore Smoke? Yep Lost weight? check worse mental health? Who, me? Live longer? Uh oh. Duh LAWD is going to smite me even earlier than I planned on. . .
#2. To: abraxas (#0)
#3. To: Eric Stratton (#1)
Sounds like churches are as concerned over their food as they are over their spiritual intake and Bible teaching.
#4. To: Turtle (#2)
God's going to have a hard time rapturing all their fat asses into heaven.
#5. To: abraxas (#4)
#6. To: abraxas (#4)
#7. To: abraxas (#0)
Feinstein says while obesity appears to be an issue for religious people, previous studies have shown that the faithful tend to live longer, be less likely to smoke, and to have better mental health status.
Why I like asbestos.
#8. To: Prefrontal Vortex (#7)
Fat, dumb, and happy ain't so bad.
If you believe in small government, then you shouldn't be in the White House.
#9. To: abraxas, 4 (#0)
“The message is really an optimistic one,” he says. “Churches already have infrastructures in place, groups of people gathering regularly and providing social support. That’s hugely beneficial in implementing health intervention or implementing programs geared toward diet and physical activity."
Click for Privacy and Preparedness files
ruin everything, including sig lines.
#10. To: abraxas (#3)
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
#11. To: Eric Stratton (#10)
And a pair of perfectly plump pitted peaches. : )
you get an extra slice of cheesecake!
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
#12. To: abraxas (#11)
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
#13. To: abraxas (#0)
The clean wholesome church activities usually involve shoving food into one's mouth, instead of shoving something else into a different hole.
#14. To: Shoonra (#13) (Edited)
Really? So you think all sex addicts are thin huh? hehe, I don't think so. It is all about self-control. If you don't have self-control with food, you probably won't have it with sex either. Fat=lazy, no matter what anyone says they believe in.
The clean wholesome church activities usually involve shoving food into one's mouth, instead of shoving something else into a different hole.
God is always good!
#15. To: Prefrontal Vortex (#7)
Fat and dumb they probably are. Happy they aren't.
Fat, dumb, and happy ain't so bad.
God is always good!
#16. To: RickyJ (#14)
======================================== Old saying:If you don't have self-control with food, you probably won't have it with sex either.
Sex is a wonderful friend, but a terrible taskmaster.
U.S. Constitution - Article IV, Section 4: NO BORDERS + NO LAWS = NO COUNTRY
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest