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Starwynd
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Is being obese living in sin?
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Inyourwasha
Guest
I’ve always struggled with that question as well… I want to know 
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MichaelTDoyle
Guest
No, being obese is a physical state.
Not moderating your appetites, I believe, to what is good for you can be sinful if such eating leads to obesity.
Sin is done by a free will choice, not a state of being.
“Living in Sin” is a metaphor for specific sexual sins by those not married, but acting as if they are.
Not moderating your appetites, I believe, to what is good for you can be sinful if such eating leads to obesity.
Sin is done by a free will choice, not a state of being.
“Living in Sin” is a metaphor for specific sexual sins by those not married, but acting as if they are.
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Inyourwasha
Guest
ohh ok so only if they commit the sin of gluttony? Willingly eat more on purpose even when they don’t need to?
I know some people have gene problems where their more prone to be over weight, that wouldn’t be a sin. That would be unlucky.
I know some people have gene problems where their more prone to be over weight, that wouldn’t be a sin. That would be unlucky.
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MichaelTDoyle
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There are also medications that cause weight gain too, some for the mentally ill. That’s double tough and I don’t see culpability there.ohh ok so only if they commit the sin of gluttony? Willingly eat more on purpose even when they don’t need to?
I know some people have gene problems where there more prone to be over weight, that wouldn’t be a sin. That would be unlucky.
Gluttony is a tough definition. A twinkie is sinful? Eating is not just need based–it is I think a licit pleasure within bounds. It is a tricky one, I think.
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LilyM
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Most people who seriously overeat do so for reasons other than ‘making a god’ of their food, if I can put it that way. In fact they’re usually addicted to food in exactly the same way as an alcoholic or drug addict or gambling addict is hooked on their vice. And its usually for the same reasons - as a poor coping mechanism with other stress or harmful emotions going on with them.
Like all addictions, it’s a bit of a two-edged sword spiritually. Certainly one who is addicted should seek all the help they can possibly attain for that addiction, and should try to be aware of trying to avoid occasions of indulging it.
For myself, for example, since I haven’t always had the healthiest relationship with food, I now try to prepare as much as possible of what I eat myself and carry sandwiches or other healthy foods around with me everywhere. And if I need to eat out, try to stick with the healthy options at Subway or other sandwich bars instead of going for the more fatty, salty sugary goodies.
Does that mean that it’s inevitably a sin if I slip up? Well, ultimately only God really knows. I think, being the food-obsessed society we are it’s EXTREMELY hard, much more so than it used to be, to avoid occasions of sin involving food, and God is probably understanding of those sorts of difficulties.
Like all addictions, it’s a bit of a two-edged sword spiritually. Certainly one who is addicted should seek all the help they can possibly attain for that addiction, and should try to be aware of trying to avoid occasions of indulging it.
For myself, for example, since I haven’t always had the healthiest relationship with food, I now try to prepare as much as possible of what I eat myself and carry sandwiches or other healthy foods around with me everywhere. And if I need to eat out, try to stick with the healthy options at Subway or other sandwich bars instead of going for the more fatty, salty sugary goodies.
Does that mean that it’s inevitably a sin if I slip up? Well, ultimately only God really knows. I think, being the food-obsessed society we are it’s EXTREMELY hard, much more so than it used to be, to avoid occasions of sin involving food, and God is probably understanding of those sorts of difficulties.
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teachccd
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Sounds very similar to those who struggle with the sexual impurity of self-abuse…
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LilyM
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And other addictions of course, but in that our society and particularly the media are saturated with sex and food ads, those two have the most striking parallels, I guess.
Note that when I say God is ‘understanding’, I don’t mean that these things aren’t frequently at least a venial sin (since we often are somewhat half-hearted in our struggles), just that they’re reasonably often not mortal sins.
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puzzleannie
Guest
yes of course, whew it has been at least a month since someone has accused me of living in sin because I am fat. Of course I got this way by pigging out on fast food, stealing ice cream from kiddies, and parking my butt in front of EWTN instead of excersing. How clever of you to know more about me than either my doctor or priest do. If this question, phrased in this way, is not a banned topic it ought to be. Why not look up a good examination of conscience or even a list of the deadly sins. You will see gluttony and various forms of deliberate abuse of one’s body are sinful. You will NOT see anywhere that suffering the effects of physical disorders is a sin.
An ACTION is a sin. A bodily condition, disorder, physical attribute, or even psychological attribute is NOT a sin.
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LilyM
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I agree - for those who DON’T get fat by pigging out and not exercising but for other medically explainable reasons. Who are not in the majority or anywhere near, as my parents and sister (all doctors) can tell you.
I can only speak for myself, I HAVE gotten fat by pigging out and not exercising and I’ve lost weight by restraining my eating and exercising somewhat more.
It stands to reason that if any obese person can lose even some weight (and most any loss will improve their health) and don’t attempt to do so, they’re neglecting their health in a possibly sinful way.
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drafdog
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There are a lot of contributing factors to obesity, not all of which are consciously chosen actions of the individual.
If you think you or someone close to you is obese, see a doctor for a full physical examination including endocrine workup for diagnosis of possible factors. Always get the professional help needed to address physical and emotional problems. Grace builds upon nature.
Matthew
If you think you or someone close to you is obese, see a doctor for a full physical examination including endocrine workup for diagnosis of possible factors. Always get the professional help needed to address physical and emotional problems. Grace builds upon nature.
Matthew
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bcuster
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If it is, I am guilty. Recently I discovered that I have Type II Diabetes. After the initial shock, I realized that this explained a lot of my weight problems probably for the past 15 years. Every time I would try to lose weight I would gain five more pounds. Over 15 years I put on 70 pounds. Now that I am beginning to understand what my body is doing, I have changed the way I eat and increase activity. I think obesity has to do with genetics, with age, psychological issues, and with habits. The only thing we have some control of is habits. I think that we can make healthy choices, but I hesitate to say that obesity is sinful.
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HashemEchad
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In the Catholic religion, gluttony is a sin, but being obese is not. This is because obesity is caused by other factors than just overeating (that is, overeating is ONE cause, but drugs, metabolic conditions and other issues can also cause it.)
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goofyjim
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Um, quite simply, no.
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NoWhereMan
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God loves us all, fat or thin! Everyone`s metabolism is different, some people can pig out all day every day & never gain a pound,as others all they have to do is look at food & they gain weight
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RachelKH
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Just to throw it out there because it occurred to me – I used to very thin and very active, but now 25 years and six pregnancies later, even with crunches, 4 mile walks a few times a week, swimming a mile to 1 1/2 miles a day, eating whole grains, lots of veggies, no white flour, etc etc, I weigh 20 ounds more than I should. I used to eat as much as I liked of everything and anything I liked as often as I liked. Was I sinning by not respecting my body and eating less and better? Just wondering. It’s such a change to go from skinny to not, from young to middle aged, from easy to difficult. Am I having a harder time because I ate sinfully for so many years of skinniness?
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tjm190
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On one level, it’s a medical condition. On another level, you’re consuming more food than you need- so much more than you’re harming yourself, in a world dominated by starvation.
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budgie2
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Gluttony is one of the sins alongside greed for material things, lust, sloth, wrath, pride and envy. Vanity is also a sin. Judging by appearances is also a sin.
Gluttony is not one of the major sins. Very few people may kill to eat but people may kill or exploit others to live in mansions or own large amounts of land.
Gluttony tends to be a smaller form of greed but bad for health. I could get myself a cake at lunchtime as a treat for 50p or $1. Or I could buy myself a new dress for £50 or $100 dollars as my lunchtime “treat”. Which is worse?
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