Let me lead with — I have been both fat and a pastor. Unfortunately, no one really ever thought to tell me I was fat, although a few buddies teased me.
Stolen stat: 73% of pastors are overweight with 50% more than 30 lbs overweight.
At one point I was 230lbs. Today I am 190 on my way to 185 after 1 long year of hard work, exercise and eating real sized portions. Hold me accountable if I ever top 200lbs again.
Did a quick internet search… 2 top results; this one is worth the read, the other is apparently doing something about it.
Here is why I think most (not all) pastors get fat. You choose the priority order. My hope is that we would all strive to lead healthy lives in every area.
Pastors get fat because:
- Typically they work over 50 hours a week and leave no time or energy for being physically healthy.
- Pastors value meetings; either with people from their churches or with their staff for ‘ministry projects’… this leads to a LOT of sitting. (Pointer based on experience – learn to talk while you walk)
- Most churches have expense accounts for meetings which get used for meals. Not bad in themselves, but when combined with sitting and given that most pastors are underpaid, free meals become VERY attractive. (Pointer – order from the lunch or appetizer menu; share meals when out with your spouse)
- Physical health, exercise and ‘play’ is not seen as a spiritual value. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
- The United States church culture is more likely to address porn as an issue than it is obesity, however, pastors struggle with both.
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