Our bodily well-being can't be reduced to a number on a scale.
Which is worse: being overweight or being ashamed of being overweight? In recent years, some advocates have urged that we take a new approach to obesity. They argue that shame over body size only makes overweight people more anxious, depressed, and prone to disordered eating habits. Some go so far as to argue that obesity isn’t a real problem.
The most rigorous research, however, still identifies obesity (defined as a high body fat percentage) as a risk for many diseases and early death. (It’s worth noting that many of those who downplay obesity receive money from Coca-Cola.) And excess weight isn’t the only problem. People who eat unhealthily and don’t exercise are also at greater risk for diseases like diabetes, even if their metabolism allows them to maintain a normal weight.
But here’s some encouraging news: research suggests that people who change their lifestyle but don’t lose weight (or only lose 5 to 10 percent of it) still reduce their health risks if they maintain those healthy behaviors. And this provides a window of opportunity for local churches.
Christian communities have not always taught a holistic view of what our bodies are for. There’s the oft-noted problem that we rarely preach as fervently about gluttony as we do about sexual immorality. Of course, if browbeating and legalism don’t work for sex, we should hardly try to make them work for food. Instead, church leaders can teach that food and sex are meant to be enjoyed just as much as they are meant to sustain life. As such, both require that we take up disciplines that honor our created limits.
Moreover, local churches can address the issues at the heart of unhealthy relationships with food. Many of us overeat ...
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