An article appeared today in the CNN health section regarding binge eating and Oprah Winfrey. The title of the article was Don’t Overeat Like Oprah.
The article reports that binge eating is more prevalent then anorexia and bulimia. It’s an informative article that addresses some of the issues concerning binge eating. Among other things, the author points out that it’s important to get down to the roots of the eating. In many cases the root issue is an emotional or spiritual one. The article further outlines how Oprah, as well as many other people interviewed for the article, report that they eat during stressful times. They find solace in the food that they eat.
Over the years I have spoken with many people who are challenged by binge eating. Several have participated in programs that I have administered at a health system and at a YMCA setting.
There’s a verse that comes to mind that I often refer to regarding eating and food.
“You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” Psalm 63:5
Jesus is the real satisfaction and answer for the very deep needs and spiritual concerns that we have. The scripture makes that very clear. So many people have a difficult time changing their binge eating behavior because they try to change on their own or using some kind of system that really does not get down to the root issues.
Counselors say, according to the article, that what fuels the binges is a desire to get away from an unpleasant feeling. Jesus paid the price for all of our sins, hurts and pains on the cross. It is for freedom that Jesus died and was resurrected. If you, or someone you know, is challenged by binge eating behavior, then I would urge you or your friend to turn in a deeper way to Jesus.
Spend more time with him. Spend more time reading the Bible. Spend more time on your knees in prayer with him. Mostly, keep him close to you in your heart and cry out to him when you feel especially emotional or are challenged with significantly strong negative emotions.
“The country’s obesity epidemic continues to worsen, as detailed in F as in Fat 2010: How the Obesity Crisis Threatens America’s Future. Adult obesity rates climbed in 28 states during the past year and now exceed 25 percent in more than two-thirds of the states, with rates higher among Blacks and Latinos.
The report, by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), discusses how the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem. At the same time, it highlights public recognition of the issue and acute concern over the prevalence of childhood obesity.”
The above statement is from the section on obesity at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website. It has the entire 2010 report mentioned.
The level of obesity in America has continued to worsen according to the report. About this time last year, I made a post about the F as in Fat 2009 report. I have made a cursory review of the 2010 report and what I wrote last year remains my thinking on the matter. Unless we begin to get down to the issues of why we eat and what is “eating” at us, we will not make significant strides in combating the obesity epedemic in the US.
I did a search of the words faith and spirituality in the 2010 report. In the context of the faith/spirituality and health link, the words are not used. By and large, the national, state and local governments are not including this aspect of the obesity issue. How do they expect to make a dent in the obesity rates unless the root causes of inactivity and especially overeating are addressed.
I’ll end this brief post with the same words I used a year ago in the 2009 post.
Yes, we do warrant an F grade in the fight against obesity in America but there is an F that is missing in this Fat epidemic and it’s faith in God.
If we’re going to have an impact on this aspect of our health-care crisis in America, I’d recommend that those setting national policies to turn around obesity in adults and children and in health care reform include a very big dose of faith/God-based initiatives into their planning.
This advertisement to the right has appeared in our local newspaper, The Charlotte Observer, several times in the last few weeks. Today it appeared in the Sports section. I imagine that the editors of the paper think that men will see the ad and show it to their wives and girlfriends so they might consider reshaping their image. Or, perhaps the women who browse through the section will see it and ponder how they might develop a better image – physically and emotionally.
The same ad appears in the current issue of Today’s Charlotte Woman magazine.
It’s so sad that this is par for the course in our society today. Women especially are bombarded with messages like this advertisement. Change your body and you’ll have a new self image. Looking like the women in ads like this will make you feel good about yourself and of your image as a woman. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Last night I had the privilege of leading a Bible study session for a group of 40 men involved in a transitional housing ministry that serves the poor and homeless. My message to them was that God wants them to base their personal identity on who they are in Christ and not on the messages that they might receive from the “world.”
My message to you women who happen to read this post is the same. God loves you. He sent his Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so that you might have a full life, now and for all eternity. If you have accepted Christ into your life, you now have right-standing with God. Once you were separated from him (because of the original sins of Adam and Eve), and now, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, you are reconnected with God and made right with him. Romans 5:12-17
In Romans 8:11-17, Paul reminds you that you are a child of God and in Ephesians 2:10 he tells you that you are his masterpiece, created to do good things that he has planned for you to do long ago.
I have a wife and a daughter who is a young adult. They are both as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. That’s the way God sees them and the way that I see them. I hate it that they, and all other women in our society, have to battle with the messages that the world sends them. It tears me up that women have to contend with these messages.
Women, you don’t have to have a perfect body to feel good about your self image as these ads suggest. If you’ll just believe that God loves you so much that he calls you his child and if you receive this love deep in your heart, your identity and your life can be changed forever. That’s what Romans 12:2 reminds us. You can be transformed by the renewing of your minds.
Women, I encourage you to place your heart and your soul in God’s hands and receive his great and powerful and transforming love through his Son, Jesus. Then, read and embrace the truths found in his guidebook for living – the Holy Bible.
“Eating can be triggered by a multitude of factors other than hunger. If you were to analyze the intricate chemistry of the human body, it is apparent how stressful situations set off a cascade of hormones that can result in an unexpected calorie binge. Problems arise when we consistently give in to this hormonal calling and begin to depend on food as our escape from the tension of life.”
The above paragraph is taken from an excellent article written by Corey Little about emotional and stress eating that appears in Faith and Fitness Magazine.
If you’re challenged by eating unhealthy food and too much food when you’re stressed you may find this article has some good insight and tips. With that in mind, I’m passing it along.
“You (God) satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:5
When I was enrolled in my master’s degree program at Indiana University, one of my favorite courses was the The Growth and Human Development of Children. David Gallahue, PhD, was the professor. He went on to be the Dean of the Physical Education department. Gallahue shared with us that to learn a new sport or skill, three essentials were involved – effective instruction, lots of practice and plenty of encouragement and support.
This important concept can also be transferred into learning any new skill and changing health behavior. As many of you are attempting to change a behavior or learn a new skill, I’d urge you to consider the application of this tip to your situation.
Here’s an example. I’m helping lead a weight loss program at our church beginning this week. We’re using a book by Kara Davis, M.D.. I made a blog entry about her book – Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss – a few months ago. Right off the bat, Davis writes in her introduction the importance and value of having an accountability partner for people who are entering a behavior change program. She urges us to find a person who will encourage, inspire and motivate us as well as speak a word of correction if necessary.
When wellness coaching clients partner with me, one of the key things they recognize they need most of all is encouragement and accountability from another person.
God clearly encourages us in scripture to rely on others for this type of support. Whether it’s an attempt at losing weight, stopping smoking or changing some other behavior, consider asking someone to stand along side of you as you take that journey!
Questions to Consider:
Are you attempting to make behavior changes on your own, without the encouragement and support of another person? If so, who might you ask to support you along the way?
Scriptures Related to Accountability, Support & Encouragement:
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
When I learn of information that I think will help others, I’m likely to pass it along more quickly than more slowly. This is one of those times.
About 5 years ago I read a book by Dr. Kara Davis, a practicing internal medicine physician, on the secrets to losing weight. It was based upon the application of the different “fruits of the spirit” addressed in Galatians 5:22-23.
I’ve read the introduction and the first of the 50 four-page chapters and scanned over the remainder of the book. One thing is clear - Davis’ heart is that people know the loving God of the Bible and that they be in good health. This book would be great to read read as a devotional over a 50 day period and I suspect could be a life-changing experience for some of you.
“For He (God) has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He (God) has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:9
Questions to Reflect On:
Are struggling with your weight and ready to grow more deeply in your relationship with God and yourself? If so, I strongly recommend you read this book.
Do you know of a friend or family member who is challenged by their weight? Consider sharing this post and book with them.
If you’re a late night eater or snacker, it may be detrimental to your ability to manage your weight.
The study is said to be the first to show directly that there is a “wrong” time to eat. This was just reported in the current issue of the journal Obesity which showed that mice who ate at night gained more weight than mice who ate at normal hours.
The childhood obesity issue is huge! If you are involved, especially at the local government level, the following should be a helpful resource.
Recognizing that local government officials are eager to address the childhood obesity epidemic, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) produced Local Government Action to Prevent Childhood Obesity, a report that serves as a practical guide for government officials at the city, town, township or county level who want to take action to address healthy eating and active living.
This report recommends 58 action steps organized under 15 broad strategies. The IOM Committee also highlighted 12 of the most promising strategies across the report with the greatest potential to make a difference based on available research.
Obesity and diabetes levels are still on the rise. That’s according to the State of the States Report released this week.
According to this Gallup Poll, my state, North Carolina had a nearly 2% increase since last year. Twenty eight percent of North Carolinian’s are now obese – a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater. (Calculate your own BMI) Almost 12% of the people in North Carolina have diabetes – the 9th highest state.
Obesity Rates in America - 2009
Certainly, many people in our country die of weight-related problems each and every day. These deaths are preventable. Let’s take a deeper look.
There are many factors that contribute to the high obesity and type 2 diabetes rates in our nation. Access to health care, the environment, annual income/poverty level and heredity all play a role. But the cornerstone of these two conditions are physical activity and eating habits. The bottom line is that these two lifestyle choices most contribute to both of these conditions and they are almost totally under one’s control. These are choices we make, day in and day out.
Faith and Health
High levels of body fat and high glucose both represent a form of “death.” The Bible tells us that we have a choice. We can choose between life and death. In the Old Testament, God tells his people -
“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Later in the same book, God continues to share his instructions about the choices we have between life and death. He says “Today I am giving you a choice between life and death.” (Deut. 30:15) In verse 19 he urges us “Oh that you would choose life, that you and your descendants may live.”
We Can Choose "Life" or "Death"
We all have choices to make each and every day or our life – all throughout the day. We can make choices that are life-enhancing or death-enhancing; good health-enhancing or poor health-enhancing. The choice is ours.
With God in our life in a big way, it’s easier to make healthy choices. It’s easier to make the countless healthy choices that are important in managing our weight. But even that begins with a choice. We must make a conscious choice to involve God in our life day in and day out. It really all begins with this decision.
The more diligent we are in involving God in our life, the more strength he will provide for living and making wise and healthy choices. God can enable us - empower us – to choose to be more active and to eat more nutritious food. One key to this is to relinquish control of your life to God and to live in a more surrendered way to him.
The Bible tells us that God’s Spirit lives in us if we have accepted Jesus into our life as our Savior. Imagine, God lives in us. When we relinquish control to his Spirit, it is actually God that is empowering us as we live. In this case, it is God’s Spirit that helps us to get off our seats and be physically active. It is his Spirit that prompts us to buy and eat healthier food. His Spirit gives us greater discipline. It is God’s Spirit that comforts us when we are stressed and feel like opening the refrigerator and eating a carton of ice cream or devouring a box of cookies.
My hope and prayers for all of you who might struggle with your weight is that you lean more heavily on God and a deeper faith to assist you in making healthier lifestyle choices. That you’ll make a conscious choice to tell him in your prayers that you need his help and that you are unable to make these desired changes on your own.
I hope that you will experience the love of God in it’s full measure and that that you will be empowered by God to make the kind of healthy changes in your life that you might want to make. See the verses in Ephesians 3:16-19
Questions To Reflect On
If your health is impacted by your weight, what lifestyle changes could you make that will help you lose weight?
How much are you really depending on God to help you with these changes?
Does God’s Holy Spirit live in you that he might enable you to make any desired changes in your life?
Struggling with life as well as your weight? Desire to know God in a personal way? Desire to have God’s Spirit in your life to empower you to live? Read about God’s love.
In late August I’ll be starting a 4-week webinar series addressing unhealthy behaviors and the role of faith in changing those behaviors. I’ll be sharing my insight about the faith and health link from the Christian perspective and equip you with skills and knowledge to change unhealthy behaviors – with God’s help.
The first session of the 4-week series will be an introduction to the spirituality and health connection and will be free.
Help me determine which of two focuses to have during the remainder of the series by answering the poll below. I’ll announce the series focus and provide details on how to register soon. Stay tuned.
Know Others Who Struggle with Unhealthy Behavior?
If you have a loved one or a friend who struggles with unhealthy behavior, perhaps you’ll consider forwarding this post to them in an email.
An article appeared today in the CNN health section regarding binge eating and Oprah Winfrey. The title of the article was Don’t Overeat Like Oprah.
“The country’s obesity epidemic continues to worsen, as detailed in F as in Fat 2010: How the Obesity Crisis Threatens America’s Future. Adult obesity rates climbed in 28 states during the past year and now exceed 25 percent in more than two-thirds of the states, with rates higher among Blacks and Latinos.
“Eating can be triggered by a multitude of factors other than hunger. If you were to analyze the intricate chemistry of the human body, it is apparent how stressful situations set off a cascade of hormones that can result in an unexpected calorie binge. Problems arise when we consistently give in to this hormonal calling and begin to depend on food as our escape from the tension of life.”
Let’s Connect!