More Americans than in the past say the obesity edidemic is the most urgent health problem facing the United States, climbing to a new high of 16%. That compares with 1% in 1999, when Gallup began asking the question on an annual basis.
This is reported today by the Gallup organization and based on their annual health care survey that was conducted this year during the week of November 15th.
23% of American surveyed report that access to healthcare is the most significant issue. 19% suggest that cost of healthcare is the most pressing issue.
I continue to highlight the obesity epidemic because it’s largely a lifestyle issue that affects not only people in our country, but it is an issue that affects the Church. I believe that our personal choices have the greatest influences on our body weight. (Over the years, research indicates that lifestyle contributes approximately 55% towards our health status.) We each have control over our personal choices and lifestyle.
Over 300 people have weighed in as to why about 30% of Americans are obese in a unique poll. You can read what they say, and participate in the poll at this link. The number one explanation given by those who’ve participated in the poll is that “We are more interested in doing as we please vs caring for our bodies as a gift from God.” If this is true, then it’s mainly a sin issue. If it’s a sin issue, then the solution is repentance… and more of Jesus in our life. If the obesity epidemic is a sin issue, then it should be an issue that the Church is concerned with and addressing.
Because Americans are more concerned about the obesity epidemic than any other health condition, it seems that those of us in the Christian Church should be concerned. I believe that the Church then should proactively address this issue at the individual level and the corporate level – in the local church and in our denominations.
My prayers continue to be that pastors, clergy and Church leadership at all levels will embrace the relevance and value in addressing obesity as well as other health issues in their personal lives, in their congregations and at the national or denominational level. The Church is a sort of ‘organization under the headship of Jesus Christ. Christ followers make up the Church. In any organization, it takes involvement and backing by leaders to make a difference in an area. The same is true for the leadership of our Church and the obesity epidemic
It’s not sufficient for us to have our “ticket” to heaven. As Christ followers, we are called to care for our temples personally and to be involved in issues that affect the lives of other people who struggle in life. People in America say that their greatest personal health concern is obesity. As the body of Christ, we should be actively involved in addressing this issue from not only a personal perspective, but a corporate or Church wide perspective.
“What is the solution to the obesity epidemic in (America and) the church? The Church.”
See this article written by Scott Stoll, MD.
If you happen to be a leader in your church or denomination, or you have influence in your local church body or at the regional or national level, and would like to become involved in a sort of ‘interest group’ or ‘task force’ to address the obesity epidemic in our country and in the Church, please contact me.
Maybe we can roll up our sleeves and make a difference in this obesity issue…. for God’s people and His glory.
The obesity rate for children is at an all time high. It’s important for people to realize that a good eating program coupled with a solid well rounded workout 3x a week is important to long lasting weight management and will assist in bringing down that 30% obesity rate. This is a great article.
Children have lost the ability to go out and be adventurous and play at parks, run through the woods and just be physical. A lot of parents out of fear of kidnapping, etc keep them inside the home. Video games, television and computers are substitutes for activities and socializing. I know it isn’t proper to say but parents come home tired, with work still to do, feeding, homework and putting them to bed consumes the evening schedule. Some play soccer but that isn’t daily or extended periods at times. I have a niece whose Mother never let her outside. She got a bike for Christmas at 7 years old fell off and cried and has never been on a bike since. She is 24 and obese. She wouldn’t walk anywhere for anything. She calls her 72 year old grandmother when she needs to go somewhere. She has no interest in learning to drive and the thought of walking the maybe 3 miles to her grandmothers house is out of the question. When I was young we walked everywhere, and even if we wanted to go somewhere we took the bus as kids. At 24 her Mother who she still lives with thinks buses are unsafe and she too calls my Mother for rides places, and she is obese too. They have had dogs over and over and those poor dogs have never been walked anywhere. The problem is a lazy society who blames dangers out there on reasons not to do anything for themselves.