just the messenger, but i could not resist

[thechenman]

Well interesting topic.

But I think the titel is a bit misleading. Going to church is not the same as being religious, as going to

Mac Donalds does not make me a hamburger . But nevertheless an interesting finding. To be honest I have trouble explaining their results. Maybe it is the cake afterall.

Well...the saying does go: "You are what you eat."

[thechenman]

If you look at the demographics of the U.S., the more obese states tend to be the more depressed economically. The majority of the states are also "Bible Belt" states. The highest obesity rates in the U.S. correspond to the most impoverished and uneducated areas in the country, which also tend to be more often than not the more religious states. I'm not surprised that there is a correlation between the two, but I wouldn't go so far as to say this if proof that religion makes you fat.

Religion does not make you fat...just the food at religious gatherings...

[CBL]

I'm gonna say something that should piss off a lot of people on the forum..... but I think it's just an American thing. In the Netherlands we have some SERIOUS Christians most of whom aren't allowed to own a television set and usually don't drive on sunday. They all have their community sports teams and trust me they are healthier than I could ever wish to be! We also have a lot of Muslims and they seem to be able to keep in shape pretty well also.

Anyway I'm in no way defending religious people (having spent my high school days at a 'fundamentalistic' Christian school I believe religion is the root of all evil) but I'm pretty sure there's plenty of fat atheists. Matter of fact, I'm almost positive there's a higher percent of fat people amongst non-believers! If your life on earth is your last, why not go all out!

[Ken Gargett]

Ken,

Enjoying the thread immensly. Although our respective views on religion and politics are at odds our shared love of cuban cigars and good wine makes us brothers of a sort. Therefore, in brotherly affection, let me give you a little advice. Now, some university brainiac would probably say this article is nothing more than statistical vomit, drawing an incorrect conclusion from unconnected data. I say hogwash! One need look no further that the recent cyclone that ravaged Australia and was triggered by your infamous Catholic post. Even Rob agrees! (it's on video). Therefore, while it is undeniable that religious people all will eventually become obese black females, I caution you not to again anger the allmighty with a critique of his sacred works!

absolutely.

but to be fair, i've only ever been to japan once and that was ages ago.

[danclough]

There's a correlation / causation lesson to be learned here...but comics are always best:

http://xkcd.com/552/

[mm12]

If you look at the demographics of the U.S., the more obese states tend to be the more depressed economically. The majority of the states are also "Bible Belt" states. The highest obesity rates in the U.S. correspond to the most impoverished and uneducated areas in the country, which also tend to be more often than not the more religious states. I'm not surprised that there is a correlation between the two, but I wouldn't go so far as to say this if proof that religion makes you fat.

This was my first thought. I recently read an article online called "America's Fattest States" or some such. Pretty much all of the most obese states were from the bible belt or like the rust belt. I think local food culture plays a role in addition to poverty. There just happens to be a lot of deep frying going on in the same areas where there is a lot of religion going on.

[Rehman]

Perhapos it's not that being religious leads to obesity, but being obese leads to getting religion.

[LuciusSulla]

I'm almost positive there's a higher percent of fat people amongst non-believers! If your life on earth is your last, why not go all out!

I would doubt that in the United States. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but here the "fitter" populations tend to be urban which is also where you find many more nonreligious people. I'm an atheist who grew up in Mississippi, a state that is always in the top five in poverty, poor education, and obesity. It's also one of the most religious states in the nation, and I can say from personal experience that there weren't a whole lot of other people with my views wandering around. However, there were prodigious waist lines aplenty. I could definitely stand to lose some weight myself, which given my religious proclivities, makes me think that what mm12 said about local diet probably plays a pretty big role. Still, when you look where the fatter people live, they are much more common in the more religious areas of the country as well.

I'm also not slagging off my state as I am happy I grew up where I did. The confluence of lifestyle, education, socioeconomic status, and spiritual beliefs provides for some complicated relationships, and as someone that does social science research for a living, I cringe at stories that try to reduce it all to "this causes that."