Posted on 08/26/2019 4:18:54 AM PDT by robowombat
More obesity among black men who attend church often
Black men who attend church almost daily are nearly three times more likely to have obesity than those who never (or very rarely) attend, a new study shows.
Moreover, the study found health differences across denominations: Among black Americans, Catholics and Presbyterians had lower odds of diabetes than Baptists.
The obesity epidemic, like many deleterious outcomes in America, has disproportionately affected the black population, researchers say. While nearly one-third of all men and women have obesity, the rate jumps to nearly one-half (48.4%) among African Americans, putting them at greater risk for diabetesand cardiovascular disease, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Previous studies have noted a connection between religious attendance and obesity. However, the new report in the Journal of Religion and Health explores that relationship with a specific lens on black Americans who, based on a 2014 study from Pew Research Center, are more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to believe in God, consider religion important, attend church frequently, and read prayer and scripture.
Self care and Faith “Historically black churches have been a source of spiritual and social support, but greater religious engagement must also support good health behaviors,” says lead author Keisha L. Bentley-Edwards, assistant professor of general internal medicine, associate director of research, and director of the health equity working group at the Cook Center at Duke University.
“Both men and women who are active members of their churches are being pulled in a lot of directions outside of their faith community, which can make self-care a lower priority than what is warranted. We want them to make faith and health priorities in their lives, rather than faith or health.”
Researchers used data from the National Survey of American Life to study the intertwining of faith behaviors and health outcomes for more than 4,300 African American and Afro-Caribbean Christians.
The findings show that black men who attend services “nearly every day”—the shortest interval tracked—were roughly three times as likely to have obesity than those never attending or attending less than once a year.
Detecting the reason for this high obesity rate—and, specifically, the negative relationship that exists for men but not women—will require further inquiry, the authors say.
Denominational Differences Researchers have begun to understand how obesity can spread through social networks. For those frequenting the church, the authors write, the space “may facilitate the transfer of obesity” through shared social norms.
The authors also built upon prior research that showed, when considering multiple races across Christian denominations and other faiths, obesity is most prevalent among Baptists. While the authors note no faith-based disparities in obesity rates in their study of black Christians, they found Baptists are significantly more likely to have diabetes than either Presbyterians or Catholics.
The researchers hope that future studies comparing other diabetes risk factors will help explain the increased prevalence of the disease among Baptists. They also posit that denominational differences in attitudes towards one’s body—for example whether one considers the body “a vessel through which members serve God”—may drive these results.
Above all, the researchers suggest the importance for greater finesse in religious health interventions, including the need to potentially tailor these strategies through faith, rather than a uniform approach.
“Although researchers and practitioners have used historically black churches as sites for health promotion initiatives, the nuances within and between denominations are often lost, which may impact the effectiveness of their programs,” Bentley-Edwards says. “We need novel understandings of the indicators that protect and diminish health outcomes.”
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities funded the work.
Written by: Lucas Hubbard-Duke
First published 15.08.19: https://www.futurity.org/church-obesity-african-american-men-religion-2133452-2/
Also, more likely to be married men, actively serving as fathers—and married men more likely to “let themselves go” and actively serving as fathers tied to “dad bods”?
I think a lot of this obese ‘chatter’ goes to breakfast tastes, and calorie counts.
Having grown up in Alabama...I can swear that a typical breakfast may run upwards to 1,200 calories easily. There are other areas around the US where your breakfast count might only be 600 calories (bowl of cereal and some toast, with a coffee). A couple of years ago, I visited for a couple of days, and found myself having near 1,800 calories between 7 AM and 11 AM.
If you went and took calorie counts from these black church-going guys....I’ll bet that 95-percent are hefty breakfast eaters.
I would agree.
Well check out the communion wafers.
that is a low info or just plain stupid statement. Tell that to an elephant, a gorilla, or a whale. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and to assume a persons size is stricty an eating problem is simpleminded.
I have 3 niecea that eat chicken nuggets, drink whole milk and chow on snacks constantly, yet they are all thin. My father has stage 4 prostrate cancer and is sock most of the time, he hardly eats but has a 42" waist and still weighs 180#.
my poi t is , Eating is not the root of all obesity
I don't think it's church but the social aspect of it. My wife is also in a Mahjong club and they center all their activities around eating as well. Wherever they go to play, snacks abound.
Let's just face it, Americans in general are always eating and it's usually not healthy eating.
Many, many people
Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
Such men are dangerous.
Let me have men about me that are fat.
Sleek-headed men, and such that sleep o’ nights.
Another stupid “study.” Is someone now going to say that going to church makes Black men fat? The blather in the article tried to say that without saying it.
I'm sure you're right, but the other side of the coin is just as bad. Single men, and people relying on EBT as well, tend to buy food you don't have to cook. Microwave meals, noodles, cake, spaghetti in cans, beef jerky, deli chow...you get the idea. They're eating too much sugar, too much salt, and more carbs than their bodies know what to do with. And that may be doing more damage than a woman in the kitchen ever could!
Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.
(the real version, not the messed up one done from memory above)
I’ve been to “lunch” at a Baptist Church- the fellowship was delicious.
I was close to obesity. I cut my intake. Takes self control.
Another thing, if a fellow is unemployed and sitting home eating spaghetti sandwiches and pbj all day, the inactivity will make him swell up faster.
Bet this is a phony study. What is their definition of obese?
Gluttony & idolatry.
Proverbs 23:2
We are called to glorify The Lord with out bodies.
“Who attends church “almost daily”?”
I guess you would have to define the word “almost” as used by the author of the article.
Hmmm... Let’s see...
Tuesday night meeting,
Wednesday service,
Thursday prayer service.
Friday family night social,
Saturday men’s Usher’s meetings (breakfast), church cleanup or maintenance day.
Saturday evening service.
Sunday service (2x) pot luck, fellowship and coffee beforehand.
Many churches have two three and sometimes four services per week. Whether they have food at those or in celebration of those Services is another question, however it’s not uncommon that there are several Services a week, with coffee and donuts beforehand.
I would go to a Seventh-Day Adventist Church periodically and after every Saturday service which is their holy day, they would have a wonderful vegetarian potluck and it was very tasty. But also very healthy. I was invited to a Moony house years and years ago and it took me awhile to figure out that they were Moony because they never really mentioned it. But they ate vegetarian and it was very good as well.
LOL, it takes a lot of self control to be healthy down South. I always grow okra in summer so we eat it all summer and fall and then I have some in the freezer. It’s really good if it’s fixed right but I always smash it between paper towels to remove as much oil as possible. I have an air fryer for my fried chicken and other fried things but the okra has to be pan fried for me to like it. That’s my only food vice but like I said, it takes a lot of control. :-)
People in poor health more likely to seek God. Who would have thought?
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