Overeating in the Church - A Believer Investigates
By Heleen Woest


I recently stumbled upon an article "Lard have Mercy:The Christian obesity epidemic".

It was very interesting and although the author showed an obvious prejudice towards Christians, I couldn't help but agree with some of the points being made. The author based the article on Ferraro's most recent study, published in the June 2006 issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, a follow-up to a study he published in 1998, where he found there were more obese people in states with larger populations of folks claiming a religious affiliation than elsewhere -- particularly in states with the most Baptists.

I grew up in a Christian home, and I love the church, but even I can not shut my eyes to the fact the we have grown, to put it mildly, "bigger" over the years. Now of course this problem is widespread. Everybody knows by now that obesity has become an epidemic in America with more than half of the populations suffering from this. So the church has not been isolated in it's denial of the eminent dangers associated with obesity.

The truth is that we as Christians tolerated the sin of gluttony in our midst for a long time. I grew up seeing a lot of overweight people in church, including the pastors, and I never even gave it a second thought. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way condemning overweight people, that would make me a hypocrite seeing that I have struggled with food for many years, and still have to fight off the enemy in this area.

I'm afraid the church's denial of this problem didn't help though. We don't allow alcohol at our meetings, and preach against the dangers of drunkenness. Some congregations have even switched to grape juice for communion to not give any alcoholics the opportunity to stumble. All kinds of addiction programs sprung up and we have reach out a hand to help people overcome these. Pastors do their part by preaching against the lusts of the flesh that the Bible speaks of. However, for a very long time, we ignored the fact that food can also become an idol, something to numb pain and help you deal with life, a drug of choice.

Until a few years back I found it so hard to keep my food addiction at bay while being active involved in church. It is true that we can not pin it all on the church, then we will be no different than the people suing McDonald's for their obesity. But we also have to wake up to the truth that to win obesity will take a team effort. Yes, individuals needs to change, and families needs to have a hard look at their lifestyles, but big institutions and government agencies plays a big role in winning this war against obesity as well. So the church can't just passively sit by, refusing to change with the times.

It is true that the church, like the rest of the world mind you, gathered around food. Granted at a secular party there would be alcohol too, but there will always be room for rich food and decadent desserts on the menu as well. Likewise, every meeting and gathering at the church have been a place for the ladies to bring their best dishes to the table, and best would hardly ever equal healthy, such a thing would be unheard of in years past. In fact, if I were to bring a plate of vegetables to a church function a few years back, nobody would eat it and their would have been some stares and gossip.

Have things changed? I think so. We're getting there, slowly but surely, just like everybody else. There are more fruit, vegetables and healthy dishes at the meetings these days. It's still fun to gather around food, and lots of times our meetings are right at lunch or dinner time anyway. However, our church gets it meals delivered from Subway these days and you have a choice between two healthy sandwiches, with chips or a cookie of course.

There is also an awakening in many churches to the fact that God made us to move. Many churches have added a gyms to their complexes, and some small groups are dedicated to help people get fit and loose some weight. In recent years many books have been written to help Christians get their weight under control and programs such as First Place have been gaining popularity with their excellent material and support groups. So I do think the church are realizing that our casual take on overeating is not good for us and it's hurting our children. However, we still have a long way to go. Not everybody is convinced yet, and one can't help but wonder why if all the evidence are on the table. Also, habits don't change over night and certain food became part of certain traditions making it all the more difficult to let it go. But I, for one, will encourage people to grieve these "food traditions" and start new traditions in order to save their lives and the lives of their children.

I am joining many of the Christians in the fight against obesity in the church. If you are a Christian struggling with food, my heart goes out to you. It is not an easy struggle, in fact it can be very lonely in a church where people don't talk about it and still pile the tables high with rich, fatty foods. You will find help on my website that I wrote especially for women and moms dealing with eating disorders and food addiction. Make no mistake, it's not just people with anorexia and bulimia who have an eating disorder. Anybody who doesn't eat in a normal healthy way needs help in this area. Come see for yourself, it's online so you can do this program in the safety of your own home and at your own pace.

http://www.eatingsdisorders.com

As I watch the passers by in a normal run of the day, I see a great multitude of just everyday Americans that are to fat....
WE are an affluent nation, and we eat to much junk food.

Kids walking home from school have bellies hanging out over their belts, and girls having to wear cloths way to large for their age.

I remember somewhere in the scriptures warning to stay away from the 'Kings dainties'.....do you suppose that may refer to sugar since in those days Kings could only afford to use it? I'm not sure, but wonder about that! There is several references for dainties in the Bible.....Here they are:
Ge. 49:20 Job 33:20 Ps. 141:4 Prov.23:3 Rev.18:14....
May be fun to look them up

I have to agree the foods we've been eating today are just so unhealthy I also had a little problem with overeating and it was never anything good just junkfood after awhile I had seen there was a change in the way I was feeling I was always tired never any motivation. Well I changed my diet to healthy foods and I really started to feel the change it gave me some life back I really do feel alot better. I think it is great that you've created a sight that can help those who struggle with eating disorders. Great post Godbless in Christ's love.

Sin is sin. Gluttony is sin just as much as any other. Eating can easily become an addiction, and addictions are idols set above our Lord.

I appreciated what was said near the end of the article about how one doesn't have to have anorexia or bulimia to have and eating disorder. Eating too much or eating emotionally is a disorder too. I'm very close to someone with anorexia/bulimia, and I'm tired of people wrinkling their noses up at the sight of her, while they are 50 to 100 pounds overweight. That might have not been nice for me to say, but I just said it. So there.

Thanks for the article.

Sadly the topsoil is completely void of the nutrients that it takes to produce truly healthy foods and has been so since the 1920's. This is one cause of over eating; eating and not getting what your body needs leading to constant cravings. Then of course there is the over stimulation of the brain by an over abundance of sugary foods which can trigger an eating frenzy. Some folks have metabolic problems that cause them to gain weight. And of course often there are poor habit patterns involved.There are other times when people turn to food to comfort themselves in the throws of depression. Sometimes it is just old fashioned gluttony. One answer does not always fit all.

Originally Posted by Boanerges

Sadly the topsoil is completely void of the nutrients that it takes to produce truly healthy foods and has been so since the 1920's. This is one cause of over eating; eating and not getting what your body needs leading to constant cravings. Then of course there is the over stimulation of the brain by an over abundance of sugary foods which can trigger an eating frenzy. Some folks have metabolic problems that cause them to gain weight. And of course often there are poor habit patterns involved.There are other times when people turn to food to comfort themselves in the throws of depression. Sometimes it is just old fashioned gluttony. One answer does not always fit all.

This is an interesting thread. Good post boanerges - though I hadn't heard about the topsoil being void of nutrients before.

I've struggled with my eating habits for a number of years, but am finally bringing them under control since I cut down my intake of carbohydrates and processed foods and upped my intake of protein. I've just been diagnosed diabetic and it seems I must have been insulin resistant for a number of years which has in part been responsible for my cravings and weight gain.

I agree with you Boanerges 100%.

Trish