The United Methodist Church reports on a study out of Duke University. The study found that clergy were more likely to be obese than others in the same age range, and that nearly half of the clergy surveyed were obese.

The Clergy Health Initiative is a $12 million, seven-year effort, funded by The Duke Endowment, to improve the health and well-being of United Methodist elders and local pastors serving churches in North Carolina.

A study published online in May in “Obesity,” the journal of the Obesity Society, found that the obesity rate among United Methodist clergy ages 35 to 64  is close to 40 percent — 10 percent higher than other North Carolina residents.

Is the issue similar in other denominations and faith groups? 

The report speculates that stress might be a major cause of the obesity.

One of the stress-related findings for the conference to consider is “a higher than anticipated feeling of isolation among our pastors,” she said. Often, pastors do not feel comfortable about turning to church members to talk honestly about the unsatisfactory parts of their lives.

See the full article here.

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