Beth Shepard, MS, Mind & Body Clinical Content Development Team:

The religious community received some startling news last week with an unpublished study out of Northwestern University linking weekly participation in religious activities with increased risk of obesity.
After following 2,433 men and women for 18 years, researchers concluded that normal-weight young adults who participate in their religious communities at least once a week were 50% more likely to be obese by middle age. And that’s after adjusting for age, race, sex, income, and baseline body mass index.

Does this mean that people of faith who want to avoid obesity should quit going to weekly worship? No.

First of all, this data has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal, so we don’t know all the details of the study and whether the results can be generalized to the entire population. So let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.

Faith community participation has been linked in numerous studies with increased longevity, less cardiovascular disease, reduced risk for depression and suicide, less stress, stronger immune systems, and better quality of life. For example, the Adventist Health Study followed more than 34,000 people over 12 years and found those attending worship services regularly were 20% less likely to die at any age.

Hospitality and fellowship are key elements of most faith communities. Eating is a naturally social activity, so it’s no surprise that food and drink are often abundant at faith community gatherings. I attend a Lutheran church, where potlucks and pie socials are deeply ingrained in the culture of the congregation. We hold bake sales for disaster relief, dessert auctions to raise money for youth programs, and soup suppers during Lent. The Julefest bazaar is a lefse, krumkake, and sandbakkel extravaganza as we enjoy traditional Norwegian holiday treats.

Like many faith communities, the Lutheran church isn’t known for welcoming change. While I have seen fruit plates and vegetable trays alongside the hotdogs and cookies on occasion, I can only imagine the response if I suggested whole-wheat noodles for the spaghetti feed or a fruit reception after the choir concert.

Eating well at a faith community event, company potluck, or a family reunion requires strategic planning if you want to participate and stay on track with your health goals. More often than not, we pack our own food for church events — and we bring healthful dishes to share at potlucks. That way we can join in the fun without eating in ways that we later regret.

I hope this study stimulates discussion, reflection, and healthful change. Practicing kindness and compassion are common to most faiths. And many believe that keeping the body healthy is a form of stewardship. With so many members living with diabetes, heart disease, stroke, overweight, and obesity, does it make sense to keep doing things the way we’ve always done them? Is serving only less-healthful food at every event the compassionate thing to do? Does it promote good stewardship? Does it truly reflect our beliefs and core values as a congregation? Are there small changes we could implement to honor tradition while encouraging good nutrition and physical activity?

Think of it —your church, synagogue, or mosque could become a place that feeds the soul and nourishes the body.

Do I hear an “amen?”