God and the Obese...

So, a friend sent me an article that cites a study, that in turn claims that almost fifty percent of children who attend religious services regularly, are obese.  Not just overweight, but obese.  The study also adds that a majority of adults who attend worship services regularly are in the same boat.

I had actually heard much of this study when it was published earlier this year.  The religious people I am close to, as well as many that I respect in theological circles, quickly dismissed the study.  And naturally, those folks who have had long-standing issues with organized religion, used the study as further indicia of the ills of worship.

At the outset, I acknowledge that the study is irresponsible.  Simply linking obesity with worship attendance frequency, is like linking strip club attendance with being an elected official.  I could have used a better comparison, but you get the point.  (I miss the days where our elected officials just had a few mistresses and womanized at strip clubs like everybody else, instead of sending pictures of their genitals over the Internet.  I digress.) 

It is irresponsible to say the least.  Without controlling for socioeconomic, educational, and other factors, the study does seem to be an attention grab by those who have a bone to pick with organized religion.

However, the church would be most wise to be pensive about the health of the pew.  Not for the study's sake, but for the future of the church.  In an age where a vast majority of African-American clergy die of heart disease or stroke or complications from diabetes by age 60, we know that while the study and its proponents have an agenda, there may be some truth in the findings somewhere.

Attending worship service certainly is refreshing for the mind and spirit, but it does less for the body.  A thoughtful spiritual plan pays attention to all three in a holistic sense.

If the Apostle Paul is right in his pronouncement to the church in Corinth that "we are the body of Christ," then "we" as individuals, and "we" as a church, the collective "we," should work to make healthier eating acceptable discourse in theology.