Overcoming obesity with the aid of Christian faith

Christ And The Rich Young Ruler by Heinrich Hofmann (1824–1911), 1889.

Jesus Christ ate a healthy diet as He ate a Mediterranean diet which is a very healthy diet according to medical science (see: Jesus Christ, the apostles and the Mediterranean diet/Mosaic diet).

Although effective diets, exercise, or medical interventions can rid a person of excess weight, often merely having effective methods available to lose weight is not enough - very frequently, it takes self-discipline as well.

Besetting sins such as gluttony, sloth, homosexuality and drug addiction can certainly be more effectively conquered with the assistance of Christian faith and self-discipline. And of course, in the case of weight loss, through diet and exercise well (see also: Atheism and obesity).

Peter LaBarbera is the President of Americans for Truth which is an organization which counters the homosexual agenda. Peter LaBarbera declared concerning Christian ex-homosexuals who reported being transformed by the power of God:

“

Another factor from my experience as a close observer of the “ex-gay” phenomenon is that many former homosexuals do not linger in “reparative therapy” programs, or participate in them at all. They attribute their dramatic and (relatively) rapid transformation to the power of God, and likely would not show up in a study of this kind. In fact, these “unstudied” overcomers would appear to be the most successful ex-homosexuals because they’ve moved on with their lives — as “reborn” Christians move on after overcoming any besetting sin.

”

In 1980 a study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry and eleven men participated in a study about men overcoming homosexuality. The American Journal of Psychiatry stated that eleven homosexual men became heterosexuals "without explicit treatment and/or long-term psychotherapy" through their participation in a Pentecostal church. The results of this study are not surprising since Christian faith has shown itself to be effective in combating drug addiction.

Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism

See also: Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism and atheism and suicide

Many people overeat in response to negative emotions such as depression, anger, anxiety and boredom. In addition, obesity is positively associated with neuroticism, impulsiveness, and lower self-discipline. As noted earlier, concerning atheism and mental and physical health, there is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism. For example, as mentioned earlier, atheists have higher rates of suicide than the general population.

In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.

See also

• Resources on becoming a Christian
• Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
• Atheism and obesity
• Bariatric science
• Ex-homosexuals
• Where was Sam Harris when the New Atheists needed him? - satire

External links

• Obesity and an F grade in fat - A need for faith in God

Other weight loss resources and tips

• Obesity and an F grade in fat - A need for faith in God
• Weight-loss goals: 10 tips for success by Mayo Clinic
• Zone Diet
• Mediterranean diet by Mayo Clinic
• Glycemic index diet: Losing weight with blood sugar control by Mayo Clinic

Strength training and cardio exercise:

• Weight loss: Cardio Exercise vs. Weight Training - Vanderbilt University, Health Psychology Home Page

How much exercise is needed to lose weight and importance of one day of rest per week:

• How much exercise is needed to get fit and lose weight
• Workout tips and giving your body one day of rest a week
• Exercise and recovery time
• Muscle recovery time and weight lifting
• Lose weight fast: How to do it safely by WebMD

Documentary on weight loss:

• Fat, sick and nearly dead

Supplements

Irvingia gabonensis:

• IGOB131, a novel seed extract of the West African plant Irvingia gabonensis, significantly reduces body weight and improves metabolic parameters in overweight humans in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled investigation - Lipids Health Dis. 2009 Mar 2;8:7,Ngondi JL, Etoundi BC, Nyangono CB, Mbofung CM, Oben JE.
• The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon - Lipids Health Dis. 2005; 4: 12, Judith L Ngondi, Julius E Oben, Samuel R Minka
• IRVINGIA GABONENSIS - WebMD