Does the LDS Culture Promote Obesity?

[_Yoda]

PP started a rather humorous thread in the Telestial Forum. Since not everyone reads the threads there, I wanted to piggy-back off of some of the serious issues discussed and bring the topic into the main forum.

This is what I posted on the other thread:

I think that PP has a point in that LDS culture lends itself to obesity. Obviously, we have a choice in what we decide to put into our bodies. But let's face it. All Mormons do at activities is eat. We can't drink; we can't smoke; we can't even drink a cup of coffee....So what do we do? We eat!

Refreshments are served at EVERY function....and it's always cookies, brownies, etc. with a super sweet punch to wash it down with.

About 10 years ago, before I decided to change careers and go into teaching, I worked in the Marketing department of a Fortune 500 company. I spent 8-10 hours a day sitting in a cubical managing accounts via computer and phone.

I had two young children who I felt guilty about having to leave at after school daycare, and felt like I fell extremely short being the "super Mom" everyone at Church and everywhere else expected me to be. My outlet was stress-eating. I ate when I was happy, sad, depressed, etc. I weighed 270 pounds. My wake-up call came when I started feeling winded just walking out to my car in the parking lot. That's when I knew this was a ridiculous way to live. I made small changes. I started walking during lunch. I cut out the junk food, which wasn't easy because someone was ALWAYS ordering something fast food at work. But after a year, I had lost well over 120 pounds.

I made up my mind that I would NEVER let myself get that heavy again. And even after having a baby at 40, I have managed to keep the weight off.

So yes, PP has a point. You ARE in control of your own body and able to make changes.

However, I think it is vital to point out that there are many women who have thyroid problems and other health-related issues which make it much more difficult to lose weight. And, the more children you have, the more difficult it is to get your body back in shape, even if you're a health nut.

Does the Mormon culture make it more difficult for both men and women to maintain a healthy eating style? In my opinion, yes.

For those of you who are currently, or have been members of the LDS Church, what are your views on LDS culture involving this? What are some ways that things could be changed?

[_moksha]

According to Newsweek Magazine, this is a nationwide phenomena. Also nationwide, folks are giving up smoking and to a lesser extent booze, although I think coffee consumption is up. Many of us can look at our own bellys in the mirror for proof.

Maybe we should adopt the stance that we can be big and beautiful. We can show pride when we waddle!

[_personage]

I always found it odd that the whole WOW was'New Testament taught. With so much preaching about coffee, tobacco, and booze you would think the diet part would be required. How many people hold temple recomends who are not living the WOW?

[_Seven]

For those of you who are currently, or have been members of the LDS Church, what are your views on LDS culture involving this? What are some ways that things could be changed?

For starters they could start following the Word of Wisdom in the scriptures. LDS culture is a result of poor leadership in this area. Members will look down on the person drinking a cup of coffee or Coke, but then turn around and go through McDonalds each week for a cheeseburger. I also think it's laughable to bless the refreshments at church when they consist of brownies, cakes, soda, etc.

This is in large part a failure of church leaders to make the entire revelation a focus to members as the alchohol, smoking, etc is. If LDS ate the whole grains, abastained from meat only in times of famine, ate more vegetables and fruits as contained in Word of Wisdom, they would be healthy in mind and body. I believe some of the anti depressant use would go down also.

The promises associated with following the Word of Wisdom are also found in the Bible. Church leaders miss the message of the revelation by how they teach and approach it in church currently. I have tried in my TBM days and currently to discuss this topic with other Mormons, only to find a complete resistance to what is contained in the scriptures.
They are quite comfortable with holding to the current focus. Don't even bother bringing up the section on meat/flesh of animals, which is very clearly not in God's favor to partake of (except in times of famine) or they will get very defensive.

[_KimberlyAnn]

Liz, I'd like to first say how impressed I am by your weight loss! Way to go girl! I bet you feel great and look great, too.

Now I'd like to agree with you that Mormonism makes some women frumpy. Not all of them, but lots of them. I was kind of frumpy and I think it had a lot to do with garments. For some reason, I never felt sexy after I went to the temple and had to wear garments every day and night. Being covered from my neck to my knees made it easy to not to care as much about my figure and not to dress as stylishly as I should have. Also, I believe Mormonism was depressing to me. Perhaps it's not depressing for all women, but for me it was and when I'm depressed, I snack.

I lost a little weight after leaving Mormonism and I'd like to lose ten more pounds, but I'm pretty happy with my figure and I feel and dress sexier than I ever have before. There's a reason my avatar is cropped where it is - if it were cropped lower everyone would get an eyefull of cleavage. Dressing to show off my assets is a lot of fun and having the freedom to wear whatever I want and not worry if it shows my shoulders or legs has made clothes shopping a real blast. Turning a few heads now and then is a great ego boost and I don't think I turned many heads as a frumpy, pregnant, jumper-wearing, hair-up-in-a-scrunchy Mormon gal. I'm so much happier now.

KA

[_The Nehor]

I always found it odd that the whole WOW was'New Testament taught. With so much preaching about coffee, tobacco, and booze you would think the diet part would be required. How many people hold temple recomends who are not living the WOW?

A whole-hearted amen.

[_Yoda]

Liz, I'd like to first say how impressed I am by your weight loss! Way to go girl! I bet you feel great and look great, too.

Now I'd like to agree with you that Mormonism makes some women frumpy. Not all of them, but lots of them. I was kind of frumpy and I think it had a lot to do with garments. For some reason, I never felt sexy after I went to the temple and had to wear garments every day and night. Being covered from my neck to my knees made it easy to not to care as much about my figure and not to dress as stylishly as I should have. Also, I believe Mormonism was depressing to me. Perhaps it's not depressing for all women, but for me it was and when I'm depressed, I snack.

I lost a little weight after leaving Mormonism and I'd like to lose ten more pounds, but I'm pretty happy with my figure and I feel and dress sexier than I ever have before. There's a reason my avatar is cropped where it is - if it were cropped lower everyone would get an eyefull of cleavage. Dressing to show off my assets is a lot of fun and having the freedom to wear whatever I want and not worry if it shows my shoulders or legs has made clothes shopping a real blast. Turning a few heads now and then is a great ego boost and I don't think I turned many heads as a frumpy, pregnant, jumper-wearing, hair-up-in-a-scrunchy Mormon gal. I'm so much happier now.

KA

Thanks, KA! :)

The newer v-necked garments really aren't too bad. I know what you mean about the "frumpy" look, though. It's sad. Going to Church looks like a time warp back to the early 80's.

Since I teach a lot of corporate education classes, we're required to dress business attire, so I wear pant suits to work most of the time.

It's great not to have to shop in the plus section, though.

It's weird. My girls still get on my case because I buy things that are too big. It's hard to get out of that mindset.

[_Yoda]

I always found it odd that the whole WOW was'New Testament taught. With so much preaching about coffee, tobacco, and booze you would think the diet part would be required. How many people hold temple recomends who are not living the WOW?

A whole-hearted amen.

I agree. The whole WOW should be taught.

[_Jason Bourne]

I think there is a problem with weight among LDS but no more in general then the US population. Yes LDS like to eat. It is a permissible vice. But my guess is LDS are just not more over weight then anyone else. Face it. The majority of US persons are to fat. Most could do something about it. LDS the same. What may get in the way for LDS is a lot of discretionary time that can be used to exercise may be used by a Church calling. But that can be an excuse too. I exercise at least 4-6 hours a week and have done it while holding busy callings.

Plus, just watching what we eat will help. A 500 calorie deficit a day will lose you about a pound a week. That is two medium size brownies or three small cookies. But the deficit has to be below what you need to maintain. If you need 2000 calories to maintain the eat only 1500. Or eat 2000 and workout for an hour on a bike, jogging, hard walk, elliptical, Nordic track or circuit training.

[_Jason Bourne]

Over the past few year I have become a bit of an exercise snob. So my wife tell me. But I have commented in my ward a number of times that to be overwieght is breaking to word of wisdom. I once wrote a talk where I said LDS will pat themselves on the back for not drinking wine but then carry an extra 30 or 40 poinds. I said that was worse then drinking the wine which in moderation is actually GOOD for you.