Does religious belief make you fat?

A research study of religion and body weight shows that religious people are more likely to be overweight than nonreligious individuals are. Kenneth Ferraro, professor of sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., found the correlation between being overweight and being religious was statistically significant, regardless of a person's choice of faith. "The religious lifestyle has long been considered a healthy one, with its constraints on sexual promiscuity [and] alcohol and tobacco use. However, overeating may be one sin that pastors and priests regularly overlook. And, as such, many firm believers may have not-so-firm bodies."

Ferraro suggests that religion possibly may curtail some of the unhealthy effects of being overweight. "What appears to be happening is a counterbalancing effect. Religious adults report higher levels of well-being. In general, obese persons are more likely to be depressed and dissatisfied with their health, but among religious persons, weight had no effect on well-being."

While religions don't promote higher body weight intentionally, two factors may be at work...