I’ve posted this at another blog already, but I thought some of you might find it interesting: the challange of growing up overweight in the church, and what youth leaders can do to help overweight students. Helping them, in this case, does not mean trying to make them skinny; it means understanding the fears and concerns they have and showing them (and the rest of the youth group) that body size does not affect God’s love for them.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this topic seriously addressed in the church; but with more and more national attention being paid to kids’ weight and health, it makes sense to consider how your church and youth ministry deal with the issue.
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June 6, 2007 at 08:39
I would like to say being over weight is not a real issue to me, and it shouldn’t be a great concern to others unless it affects the person’s health directly or it is a threat to them. I always thought that no matter what we are all human, and that we should accept each other the way that we are. Most people are more concerned about fat people and their weight then the person themself—most of whom are usually happy they’re just the way they are. Should we love less because they are over weight? Or should we just encourage them and listen to what they have to say? My husband weighs about 300 pounds and I married him just the way he is because I love him, and I only weigh 125 pounds soaking wet. I enjoy commenting on this subject as it is important that people should know how each other feel about being overweight.
June 6, 2007 at 08:42
I am so happy to see the church dealing with yet another issue that is always swept under the rug. I can remember at a church I used to attend, there was a sister who sold natural health products that were really great in assisting with not only weight loss but overall health. This was a plus to that church considering most of the women there were severely overweight mostly due to childbirth. Myself included. I tried her products and they were not a quick-fix to losing weight but they gave me the boost I needed to get going. You could just see the joy and increased self-esteem birthed in alot of the women as well as a raised interest in walking, jogging, etc. To my horror one day the pastor stood over the pulpit and said that women should be happy the way they are and not obsess themselves with losing weight because after a woman has babies you can expect her to gain weight. He went on to say that God loves her just as well as if she were skinny. I was so shocked at his ignorance on this topic. Yes God does love me whether I am overweight or not. However its a personal conviction I have to maintain a healthy body as it is God’s temple. If that means implementing discipline in some areas I don’t see a problem with that.
The situation at the church was an isolated incident. By no means am I insinuating that everyone who is overweight has a discipline problem. My comments are based on my personal experience with being overweight and experiencing a preacher who wanted to close his eye to a very real and growing problem.
June 6, 2007 at 10:08
For as long as I can remember, I have been (and still am) overweight. I’m now 51 years old, so I don’t remember a lot of horrible experiences from my youth, but there were a few.
I have struggled with both the physical and spiritual issues involved, and I don’t want to duck them. On the other hand, the judgmentalism practiced by some Christians is also wrong.
I guess I’ve been blessed along with way with Christian friends who were not judgmental, and I believe God has also used me to be a friend to others who don’t necessarily fit in the “beatiful people” category.
I sure am looking forward to that glorified body in heaven…
June 6, 2007 at 14:47
Many of my friends have high blood pressure or high cholesterol and they are skinny. Also, some are genetically predisposed to being overweight so I make no judgment. Inviting a friend/spouse to walk with you or go to the gym with you is better than disdain. Loving friends make us all healthier!!
June 6, 2007 at 16:35
It’s a very fine line between accepting that God loves you as you are and understanding that you are responsible for your self…I have struggled with self-esteem for as long as I can remember beacuse of my tendency to gain weight, I mean: I gain weight just by looking at food, but it all goes away when I take responsable actions to loose the weight and lead a healthier life (diet modification and exercise)...
One day I understood that God could not force me to do anything I didn’t want to do, (and yes at church we don’t talk enough about the DANGERS of being overweight!!!) and so the decision and actions had to come from me, MYSELF and I…
Us conciously “fatties” (pardon the expression) have to take full responsability for our over-weight problem and JUST FIX IT, stop being fat once and for all, do something about it…even if it’s baby-steps…but we have to do something!!! specially if it’s hurting us…there are no ways around it, yes with love, but also with STERN DEDICATION, CONVICTION AND PERSEVERANCE….FOREVER…a change of life, STOP THE SUGAR INTAKE, THE SALT, THE BEER, THE PASTRIES AND ALL THAT HARMS OUR BODIES, it is not rocket science boys and girls…JUST STOP IT. WAKE UP BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE…
June 8, 2007 at 03:52
Fat people do not, on average, eat more or exercise less than thinner people. Fat and thin people who are sedentary put their health at risk, but fat and thin people who are active are at lower risk for health problems. I’m encouraged to see others here recognizing that God creates bodies in a wide variety of sizes, and I am disturbed by the one or two comments that suggest that fat people’s behaviors can be judged by their appearance. The idea of “responsibility” for body size is one entrenched in ideology. Don’t discount how much the diet industry has influenced media coverage and your own opinions on this matter. I shudder to think that the church would take anything but a “Health At Every Size” approach, thanking God for diversity in body shapes and promoting enjoyment in eating and movement (instead of punishment and ascetism). God made our bodies to provide us with hunger and satiety cues and to enjoy play and activity. God did not make us to count calories, obsess over food charts, and force ourselves to walk on treadmills in pursuit of a smaller size. Though we are taught early on to ignore our body cues, being told that some foods are good and some are bad and that we must workout (“no pain, no gain”) this gnostic approach is not of God.
June 8, 2007 at 23:20
Uh, as harsh as this sounds, some of the previous posts reflect the narcissistic feel-goodism that permeates the Body general. Does the concept of gluttony no longer matter? Don’t get me wrong, I’m currently overweight and have been so for years. I’ve done all the diets, all the exercises and have cried all the self-loathing tears that one can cry, but only recently have I understood that, at it’s most basic, being overweight is no more than the result of the sin of gluttony, and maybe shiftlessness. (And don’t give me the “medical condition” bit. Statistically that covers no more than 6% of the general overweight population). Like any sin, gluttony can be repented of, and like all sin it takes prayer, relationships and long-suffering to control/overcome, but it can be done. Let’s not be so touchy-feely regarding this subject so as to minimize God’s teachings in order to placate ourselves. We ain’t that special. Instead, let us uphold God’s word, realize our inadequacies before it, and rely upon His mercy and grace as he leads us to act upon his will regarding this. Doing so is tough, I’m gritting my teeth right now as I consider some of the changes I’ve recently made, but it has brought me closer to God as he makes this major weakness of my flesh and soul into a strength.
June 12, 2007 at 11:26
I love what Rod had to say in his reply. I do think we need to take full responsibility for our selves and our actions. I am thin BUT can gain weight also simply by looking at what is unhealthy. I struggle DAILY but like I said I am thin because I do struggle.
America is one of the richest FOOD countries and sadly it shows. In other countries eating is a whole different arena by the way its prepared and how its enjoyed.
It is too easy to overeat nowadays. Serving sizes have changed & are unrealistic. Our bodies need way less than we shove in them.
Its a discipline JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE we endure as christians. Its a walk…