Is Obesity a Sin?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Michlow

If honesty and transparency moves you, you and I are going to get along great, as I have somewhat of a reputation

Mich, you're the best.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by ILG

Mich, you're the best.

Thanks

[ForeverBlessed]

The state of being obese is not sinful.... Gluttony is the sin… lack of self control is the sin and even turning to food before God for comfort is a sin.

There are many reasons for obesity (which have already been posted). While I do agree that obesity often does cause health problems, there are cases where it does not cause health issues. In the end however, there will eventually be consequences to remaining obese as age sets in. It is something that needs to be brought under control.

I have the belief that spiritual issues will always reflect in the physical. I know that I turned to God after finally admitting that I was an emotional eater a few years back… it wasn’t easy to confess this sin to God every day. For a while, all I was able to do was confess the sin… he was faithful to forgive me. Food was my drug of choice for comfort. It has taken me a long while to work on the issue of the heart… so that I might make better choices and after working on the core issue… am able to lose the excess of weight I carry….however slow it is. Thankfully I inherited great genetics and am healthy even though I am obese.

I recently had someone tell me that most people view overweight people as not caring. That is a broad brush… many do care… some don’t… but those who do care might be in the process of correcting bad habits and/or losing weight. It doesn’t come off overnight… and it isn’t an easy process over the age of 40. You just can’t judge by appearance.

I just take comfort in the fact that even though I’m obese…I’m doing all I can to reverse bad habits that originally started from spiritual issues in my life. I would rather deal with the spiritual issues that brought it on in the first place instead of just dieting and losing it only to gain it back.

I’ve only been to the doctor once in the last 20 months and it was annual exam… which once again through blood work showed that I am healthy… low BP, low Cholesterol, normal blood sugar… I defy statistics and at 41, am a healthy obese person. My boss told me it is people like me who help this small company stay afloat with their health insurance policy… I never use the insurance other than my yearly physical. There are several people half my size on monthly medications. I’m just not sick. I try my level best to eat healthy, especially fruits, vegi’s and whole grains…(I avoid white as much as possible) I exercise 3 times a week… I get a decent nights sleep and more important, I pray and study the Word daily so that I am spiritually healthy….because from that spiritual health… the physical will follow. God will honor his word.

Ex 23:25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by ForeverBlessed

The state of being obese is not sinful.... Gluttony is the sin… lack of self control is the sin and even turning to food before God for comfort is a sin.

There are many reasons for obesity (which have already been posted). While I do agree that obesity often does cause health problems, there are cases where it does not cause health issues. In the end however, there will eventually be consequences to remaining obese as age sets in. It is something that needs to be brought under control.

I have the belief that spiritual issues will always reflect in the physical. I know that I turned to God after finally admitting that I was an emotional eater a few years back… it wasn’t easy to confess this sin to God every day. For a while, all I was able to do was confess the sin… he was faithful to forgive me. Food was my drug of choice for comfort. It has taken me a long while to work on the issue of the heart… so that I might make better choices and after working on the core issue… am able to lose the excess of weight I carry….however slow it is. Thankfully I inherited great genetics and am healthy even though I am obese.

I recently had someone tell me that most people view overweight people as not caring. That is a broad brush… many do care… some don’t… but those who do care might be in the process of correcting bad habits and/or losing weight. It doesn’t come off overnight… and it isn’t an easy process over the age of 40. You just can’t judge by appearance.

I just take comfort in the fact that even though I’m obese…I’m doing all I can to reverse bad habits that originally started from spiritual issues in my life. I would rather deal with the spiritual issues that brought it on in the first place instead of just dieting and losing it only to gain it back.

I’ve only been to the doctor once in the last 20 months and it was annual exam… which once again through blood work showed that I am healthy… low BP, low Cholesterol, normal blood sugar… I defy statistics and at 41, am a healthy obese person. My boss told me it is people like me who help this small company stay afloat with their health insurance policy… I never use the insurance other than my yearly physical. There are several people half my size on monthly medications. I’m just not sick. I try my level best to eat healthy, especially fruits, vegi’s and whole grains…(I avoid white as much as possible) I exercise 3 times a week… I get a decent nights sleep and more important, I pray and study the Word daily so that I am spiritually healthy….because from that spiritual health… the physical will follow. God will honor his word.

Ex 23:25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

Great post, Sis. Your attempt to better yourself rings loud and clear. This alone will encourage anyone who reads what you've said.

I told the Church the other night, great things start small. Any effort is better than no effort. If we can light the fire, we may end up going further with something than we ever dreamed was possible.

God Bless, NFS

[@Peace]

Hullo,

Hope it's not to late to jump into this conversation.

I was thinking about this the other day as I was watching a bigger brother preach.

The following is the product of my musings. If I had to give this personal summary of thought a title, I might call it, "The causality of obesity and potential appropriate responses for normalization of body mass":

"The state of obesity comes about through a lifestyle where an individual's consumption of calories (on a daily basis) is much greater than the volume and rate of those being burned off by his/her body. When this metabolic imbalance is present, it is usually due to: a) A personal inability to judge proper levels of nutrient consumption, b) A lack of self-control in this area, c) Poor dietary practices and meal portioning, d) Some combination of these three. Due to the adverse effects obesity has on our temples (their arteries, lungs, even mood, etc.) as well as it's ramifications in every aspects of our lives and upon our witness, it is my unprofessional medical and spiritual opinion that obesity is irrefutably both unhealthy and ungodly. Even the heathen world knows that being fat is the result of eating habits which grossly exceed both necessity and common sense. I have and shall continue to lovingly urge my fat brothers and sisters to stop filling themselves with extra calories and poorly constructed meals, and to instead focus upon filling up with the Holy Spirit so that they may enjoy the peaceable fruit which He brings."

I'm @Peace.

[Jermyn Davidson]

If obesity is a sin, are obese folks sinning every second of their obese existence?

Would that mean they are living in sin?

When will God turn the obese over to reprobates?

Are obese saints who die and are not obese due to matters beyond their control, are they doomed for eternity?

[@Peace]

Jermyn,

I would first challenge your statement inferring that there are many cases where obesity is a condition, "beyond control". In my opinion, that is so rare, it is as bad as saying abortions are often necessary to save the life of the mother. It just really doesn't happen that often. I will guarantee you that 99% of the time it is a soul condition, not a medical one, that leads to obesity. If you don't believe, take a trip to a country where food is less accessible, diets are not so high in fats and animal products, and you will find the skinny Christians are the majority. To cover your question about fatness being sin, I do agree with ForeverBlessed, it is the gluttony, the lack of self control which is the sin, and is not constrained to this one area of our lives, nevertheless being overweight is a shame to the wearer of that extra poundage and a bad witness to those looking for a changed life in Christ. If I wasn't saved, I don't believe I would easily receive a message of change from a morbidly obese preacher.

-Nick

[MrsMcD]

Is Obesity a Sin?

It depends on why a person is obese. Over eating, eating the wrong kinds of food (and even us skinny folks do that), etc. I would say it is a sin as much as other sins.

Health issues that cause obesity no matter how well a person eats, exercises, etc. then no, I don't think it would be considered a sin.

[Trouvere]

Fat is never as unattractive as when its behind the pulpit. I have a hard time listening to some one who has just taken off their jacket and is wearing a dunlop and the first thing they do is say something food oriented. ugh...no thanks

[@Peace]

Originally Posted by Trouvere

Fat is never as unattractive as when its behind the pulpit. I have a hard time listening to some one who has just taken off their jacket and is wearing a dunlop and the first thing they do is say something food oriented. ugh...no thanks

Mmhhm. That's what I'm talking bout.