Is obesity a sin?

[Lui]

More and more people are becoming obese. I think about 2/3 of the people in the USA, GB and Germany are overweight.
Is eating too much food and also mostly eating too much bad food(junk food) a sin and if not, why?
The reason I came up with this question is because I just read the “is this gluttony” thread which made me think that over-eating should actually be gluttony or am I wrong?

 

[kildare]

Not being obese per se, but “over-eating” is- Afterall Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins.
Actually food is only one of its manefestations. You need to get your mind off all type of addictions.

 

[puzzleannie]

In the first place obesity is a physical condition and no more sinful than any other condition like blindness, leanness, or red hair.

In the second place, unless you are prepared to present unchallenged, documented scientific proof that obesity is the result of a sinful activity, or of any voluntary activity whatever, rather than being the result of a metabolic disorder, you had better not even go there.

 

[Lui]

In the second place, unless you are prepared to present unchallenged, documented scientific proof that obesity is the result of a sinful activity, or of any voluntary activity whatever, rather than being the result of a metabolic disorder, you had better not even go there.

Well, many forms of obesity are the result of poor diet choice and eating too much food. Red hair is the result of genes so I don’t understand the comparison.What is the difference between eating too much food and drinking too much alcohol? In both cases, you’re ruining your health.

 

[EmeraldWings]

gluttony is the sin of intemperance with eating and drinking, it’s not just overeating, but also under eating, being to picky, being willing to hurt or deprive someone else(such as your family) for the food you love,or just having an inordinate desire for the pleasure connected with food or drink,
there is a bit of breathing room of course, because we need to eat, and there’s nothing wrong with eating more than you need, as long as it’s not to much, but mostly the sin lies in your own desires, and how you give into them.

but to answer your original question, no, being obese in and of itself is not a sin, especially when many become obese through no fault of their own, such as those who have certain operations that inevitably cause weight gain(i know a few like that) or those who take certain depression medications, or those with thyroid problems, and various other things.

also, most processed foods are just bad for you, they are loaded with bad ingredients, empty calories, hydrogenated oils, badly processed syrups and sugars, and just an insanely long list of other things that cause poor health and weight gain,
my sister for example, use to be fat, she started getting alot of these things out of her diet, and eventually went as organic as she could, and now she looks great, and i know many others who have done the same…
and i’m not trying to start a conversation about food itself here, but i just wanted to point out, alot of people complain that they don’t eat alot, and yet they gain weight real bad…and i just can’t help but think that our problem with obesity here and elsewhere is not gluttony, but just the food itself…which when you get right down to it, the proof is in the pudding(no pun intended) and you’d just have to try it for yourself to see(for those who do have weight problems.)

ok well that’s all, hope this helps, take care.

 

[DATING_101]

More and more people are becoming obese. I think about 2/3 of the people in the USA, GB and Germany are overweight.
Is eating too much food and also mostly eating too much bad food(junk food) a sin and if not, why?
The reason I came up with this question is because I just read the “is this gluttony” thread which made me think that over-eating should actually be gluttony or am I wrong?

I’m of two minds on this one. On the one hand, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. And one of its most common manifestations is physical obesity. If someone knowingly and consciously commits the sin of gluttony, resulting in obesity, then I would consider that a sin.

On the other hand, God made all of us differently. This means that some of us are more susceptible to obesity than others. That means some of us have a bigger cross to carry than others.

So, in my opinion, I think that as long as someone is making a conscientious effort not to engage in the sin of gluttony, then even if that person ends up being obese for whatever reason, it should not be considered a sin. Anyway, just my two cents.

 

[Lui]

Of course I ONLY meant obesity from over-eating and not from other medical related conditions. Many people are overweight though because they couldn’t care less of what and how much they eat, and also never exercise. My brother is an example. He is the opposite of me: while I do a lot of sports, eat really healthy and modest amounts, he just shoves the food in with no regard if it is healthy. The same goes with his children who only want to eat junk food.

I have an atheist friend who has diabetes, had two heart attacks and is severely overweight. He just eats **** and loads of it. He also smokes about 60 cigarettes(or more) a day with an “if I die tomorrow then that’s how it is” attitude.

 

[puzzleannie]

Well, many forms of obesity are the result of poor diet choice and eating too much food…

please provide the evidence for this statement. for a rebuttal of that commonly held theory, please see Gary Taubes’ Why We Are Fat and What to Do About It. The science does not bear our your claim.

Even if it did, provide your proof citing scripture and church documents that whatever behavior that contributes to obesity is objectively sinful.

You made two huge unproven undocumented leaps, so you better clean up your act before slinging words like “sin” against people.

Red hair is the result of genes so I don’t understand the comparison.W

some people have red hair for other reasons than their genetic makeup, and plenty of people are obese for reasons other than overeating. Why not get your facts straight.

and your OP did NOT ask if overeating is a sin you specifically asked if the condition of obesity is sinful. Words have meaning so be careful how you use them.

 

[Lui]

You made two huge unproven undocumented leaps, so you better clean up your act before slinger words like “sin” against people.

I find you come across quite aggressive and hostile. I just asked a question. I don’t need proof that many forms of obesity are from over-eating. That’s a FACT:

Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance. This involves eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.

cdc.gov/obesity/causes/index.html

 

[puzzleannie]

I find you come across quite aggressive and hostile. I just asked a question. I don’t need proof that many forms of obesity are from over-eating. That’s a FACT:

l

yeah well calling me a sinner because of my physical shape comes across as pretty danged aggressive from where I am sitting.
your source is not authorotative and will you please at least explore the alternative theory before advancing your own dogmatic statements.

You cannot make any provable statement whatever about what I eat or don’t eat by looking at me, and you cannot make any statement whatever about the state of my soul by looking at me, so why don’t you quit before you hurt yourself.

there are already 3 ongoing gluttony threads, why don’t you join one of them.

 

[Lui]

yeah well calling me a sinner because of my physical shape comes across as pretty danged aggressive from where I am sitting.
your source is not authorotative and will you please at least explore the alternative theory before advancing your own dogmatic statements.

Asking a question or making a statement are two different things. I didn’t call anyone a sinner. I just asked a question. Maybe you should get YOUR facts straight before attacking people in a quite aggressive manner.

 

[kildare]

I have an atheist friend who has diabetes, had two heart attacks and is severely overweight. He just eats **** and loads of it. He also smokes about 60 cigarettes(or more) a day with an “if I die tomorrow then that’s how it is” attitude.

thats so sad - He must be severly depressed to seek such continual gratification.
i`ll pray for him. I hope you can convince him to change.

Grüss aus Spanien!

 

[puzzleannie]

Asking a question or making a statement are two different things. I didn’t call anyone a sinner. I just asked a question. Maybe you should get YOUR facts straight before attacking people in a quite aggressive manner.

you obviously refuse to have your privately held opinions challenged, but the recommendation to educate yourself still stands. there is NO proof that overeating causes obesity, and mounting proof of the opposite, that people overeat because they are obese. YOU are the one who mentioned sin in your OP. And yes I will respond aggressively when directly accused as you did me.

 

[Lui]

thats so sad - He must be severly depressed to seek such continual gratification.
i`ll pray for him. I hope you can convince him to change.

Grüss aus Spanien!

Oddly he is quite depressed even though he always used to be very optimistic. His atheist views are quite extreme though. I think that ever since his wife left him for another guy a few years ago made him a bit bitter. After his first heart attack he actually stopped smoking after about 30 years and lost some weight but now he seems to have given up and is letting himself go.

 

[karow]

Asking a question or making a statement are two different things. I didn’t call anyone a sinner. I just asked a question. Maybe you should get YOUR facts straight before attacking people in a quite aggressive manner.

Please read up on HAES before posting about nutrition, obesity, gluttony, and sin.

 

[Prayerfully]

Asking a question or making a statement are two different things. I didn’t call anyone a sinner. I just asked a question. Maybe you should get YOUR facts straight before attacking people in a quite aggressive manner.

First of all, when most obese people are evaluated for weight-loss surgery, they are given a psychological evaluation, along with the usual metabolic tests. A good deal of those psychological tests show some kind of (even mild) depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (usually made worse by the imbalance of hormones/thyroid) that tend to go hand-in-hand with obesity. Should we start claiming that those that are obese are sinful because they are depressed, have been abused, have a hormonal imbalance and have found that food is a comfort for them?

Next (and this is more of a social justice issue), fattening food is CHEAPER than healthy food. Just ask anyone on food stamps. Sure, they can choose fresh fruits and veggies, the healthier cuts of meat, etc, but they get more food for their family by selecting the over-processed ones (that are proven to alter the cellular structure and are linked to diabetes and a host of other metabolic issues). When a poor women is at the store, she’s going to get the most she can with her food stamps to avoid having hungry children. While it’s not the healthiest choice, I’m sure it beats telling your kids that the fruit and veggies are gone and unless we make a trip to the food pantry, they have to wait until the food stamp card is refilled on the first of the month!

Finally, why is there such a concern if it’s a sin or not? Of course I do not know your intent, but usually something of this nature is asked to make one feel superior to others that might be obese.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

There have been cultures … in which they had “vomitoriums” … you would eat until you could eat no more … and then throw it all up … so you could return to the dining room and fill up again.

THAT clearly would be a sin of gluttony.

Obesity, by itself. Not so much.

How about this: parent or spouse is a “food pusher”. Declining to eat causes a fight to erupt … the “food pusher” actually flies into a rage. So the child or other spouse eats to prevent a fight.

 

[kildare]

Oddly he is quite depressed even though he always used to be very optimistic. His atheist views are quite extreme though. I think that ever since his wife left him for another guy a few years ago made him a bit bitter. After his first heart attack he actually stopped smoking after about 30 years and lost some weight but now he seems to have given up and is letting himself go.

Well this is actually where atheism leads to in the end - nihilism. Theres no purpose to life, theres no point to anything, so what does it matter what happens in the end. As Agent smith said in the Matrix - humans are just a virus. Theres another film , a childrens one called Wall-E, I think, where the people of the future are kept alive by robots, but they have evolved into blobs of fats, who just fill their pointless lives with eating and gratifying instant pleasure. Sounds familiar!
The thing is that this is a kind of blindness, and Christ is the light which drives away the blindness. There is a whole new world, but it requires an inversion of our nature towards community and love. Its a different paradigm, but as long as we live in the world its a very fragile thing and needs to be nourished.But if you experience it you find it far more fulfilling.
Talk to your friend in a caring way. Plead with him that it is not too late.
There is always time to change.

 

[Lui]

you obviously refuse to have your privately held opinions challenged, but the recommendation to educate yourself still stands. there is NO proof that overeating causes obesity, and mounting proof of the opposite, that people overeat because they are obese. YOU are the one who mentioned sin in your OP. And yes I will respond aggressively when directly accused as you did me.

I didn’t even know you before I posted that question so how can I accuse you of anything? I have the impression that this topic is a sensitive topic for you and that you tend to be overly defensive.

Anyway, I repeatedly mentioned that I meant being overweight from overeating. If you think that people never get overweight from overeating then where is your scientific evidence?

 

[kildare]

Of course I think its important that we dont judge on appearances.
Really we should never judge.