Abstract
The growing obesity epidemic in the West, in general, and the USA, in particular, is resulting in deteriorating health, premature and avoidable onset of disease, and excessive health care costs. The religious community is not immune to these societal conditions. Changing health behavior in the community requires both input from individuals who possess knowledge and credibility and a receptive audience. One group of individuals who may be uniquely positioned to promote community change but have been virtually ignored in the applied health and consulting psychology literature is religious leaders. These individuals possess extraordinary credibility and influence in promoting healthy behaviors by virtue of their association with time-honored religious traditions and the status which this affords them—as well as their communication skills, powers of persuasion, a weekly (captive) audience, mastery over religious texts that espouse the virtues of healthy living, and the ability to anchor health-related actions and rituals in a person’s values and spirituality. This article focuses on ways in which religious leaders might promote healthy habits among their congregants. By addressing matters of health, nutrition, and fitness from the pulpit and in congregational programs, as well as by visibly adopting the tenets of a healthier lifestyle, clergy can deliver an important message regarding the need for healthy living. Through such actions, religious leaders can be effective agents in promoting critical change in these areas.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anshel, M. H. (2008). The disconnected values model: Intervention strategies for health behavior change. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 2, 357–380.
Anshel, M. H. (2010). The disconnected values (intervention) model for promoting healthy habits in religious institutions. Journal of Religion and Health, 49, 32–49.
Baptist Messenger. (2008) Baptists the fattest of the fat? Presented at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, January 31, 2008.
Baumann, R. (2008). The overweight church. March 27, 2008. www.ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com.
Burazeri, G., & Goda, A. (2008). Religious observance and acute coronary syndrome in predominantly Muslim Albania: A population-based case-control study in Tirana. Annals of Epidemiology, 18, 937–945.
Byl, J. (2008). Valuing wellness. In P. Walters & J. Byl (Eds.), Christian paths to health and wellness (pp. 3–12). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Campbell, M. K., Hudson, M. A., Resnicow, K., Blakenely, N., Paxton, A., & Baskin, M. (2007). Church-based health promotion interventions: Evidence and lessons learned. The Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 213–234.
Catanzaro, A. M., Meador, K. G., Kuchibhatla, M., & Clipp, E. C. (2007). Congregational health ministry’s: A national study of pastors’ views. Public Health Nursing, 24, 6–17.
Cline, K. M. C., & Ferraro, K. F. (2006). Does religion increase the prevalence and incidence of obesity in adulthood? Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45, 269–281.
Colbert, D. (2002). What would Jesus eat? The ultimate program for eating well, feeling great, and living longer. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Commerford, M. C., & Reznikoff, M. (1996). Relationship of religion and perceived social support to self-esteem and depression in nursing home residents. Journal of Psychology, 130, 141–151.
Cowart, L. W., Biro, D. J., Wasserman, T., Stein, R. F., Reider, L. R., & Brown, B. (2010). Designing and pilot-testing a church-based community program to reduce obesity among African Americans. The ABNF Journal: Official Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education, 21, 4–10.
Ellison, C. G., & Levin, J. S. (1998). The religion-health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 25, 700–720.
Flegal, K. M., Carroll, M. D., Ogden, C. L., & Curtin, L. R. (2010). Center for disease control. Journal of the American Medical Association, 303, 235–241.
George, L. K., Larson, D. B., Koenig, H. G., & McCullough, M. E. (2000). Spirituality and health: What we know, what we need to know. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 102–116.
Harrigan, J. T. (2011). Health promoting habits of people who pray for their health. Journal of Religion and Health, 50, 602–607.
Healthy People 2010. (2000). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.healthypeople.gov/HTML/Volume1.
Hill, S. E. (2011). Easting to excess: The meaning of gluttony and the fat body in the anxiety world. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
Holt, C. L., & McClure, S. M. (2006). Perceptions of the religion-health connection among African American church members. Qualitative Health Research, 16, 268–281.
Jones, J. W. (2004). Religion, health, and the psychology of religion: How the research on religion and health helps us understand religion. Journal of Religion and Health, 43, 317–328.
Kelly, M. P., & Huddy, C. (1999). Keeping your temple clean: Health promotion and religious function. Journal of Religion and Health, 38, 333–340.
Kinney, A. Y., Bloor, L. E., Dudley, W. N., Millikan, R. C., Illikan, R. C., Marshall, E., et al. (2003). Roles of religious involvement and social support in the risk of colon cancer among Blacks and Whites. American Journal of Epidemiology, 158, 1097–1107.
Koenig, H. G. (1999). The healing power of faith. New York: Touchstone.
Koenig, H. G. (2007). Spirituality in patient care: Why, how, when, and what. Philadelphia: Templeton Foundation Press.
Koenig, H. G. (2008). Medicine, religion, & health: Where science & spirituality meet. West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.
Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of religion and health. New York: Oxford University Press.
Levin, J. (2001). God, faith, and health: Exploring the spirituality-healing connection. New York: Wiley.
Musick, M. A. (1996). Religion and subjective health among black and white elders. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 37, 221–237.
Omartian, S. (1996). Greater health God’s way. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publisher.
Powell, W. W., & DiMaggio, P. (1991). The new institutionalism in organizational analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2007). Active human nature: Self-determination theory and the promotion and maintenance of sport, exercise, and health. In M. S. Hagger & N. Chatzisarantis (Eds.), Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in exercise and sport (pp. 1–19). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Schlundt, D. G., Franklin, M. D., Patel, K., McClellan, L., Larson, C., Niebler, S., et al. (2008). Religious affiliation, health behaviors and outcomes: Nashville REACH 2010. American Journal of Health Behavior, 32, 714–724.
Sørensen, T., Danbolt, L. J., Lien, L., Koenig, H. G., & Holmen, J. (2011). The relationship between religious attendance and blood pressure: The Hunt Study, Norway. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 42, 13–28.
Toh, Y. M., & Tan, S. Y. (1997). The effectiveness of church-based lay counselors: A controlled outcome study. Journal of Psychology & Christianity, 16, 260–267.
Trinitapoli, J., Ellison, C., & Boardman, J. (2009). U.S. religious congregations and the sponsorship of health-related programs. Social Science and Medicine, 68, 2231–2239.
Wallston, K. A., Malcarne, V. L., Flores, L., Hansdottir, I., Smith, C. A., Stein, M. J., et al. (1999). Does God determine your health? The God Locus of Health Control Scale. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 23, 131–142.
Walters, P., & Byl, J. (Eds.). (2008). Christian paths to health and wellness. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Wuthnow, R. (2004). Saving America: Faith-based services and the future of civil society. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Young, C., & Koopsen, C. (2005). Spirituality, health, and healing. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anshel, M.H., Smith, M. The Role of Religious Leaders in Promoting Healthy Habits in Religious Institutions. J Relig Health 53, 1046–1059 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9702-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9702-5