Is being overweight a sin?

We know that being overweight is unhealthy, and leads to disease and many health problems. So, since this body is the temple of God, and we are to take care of it, does that include watching your weight, not only eating right (vegetarian), but getting enough exercise to keep our weight in the healthy range?

Most people in my church are overweight or obese. They don't eat meat, and work hard at being good christians, but they don't do anything about what is actually killing them early. Is this a problem in your church? Next week, check out the average weight of the folks in the pews, are they in good shape? Do they get regular cardiovascular exercise, or do they just try to not eat meat? And since they know it's unhealthy (I don't think you could make the argument that anybody in chruch doesn't KNOW that being overweight is unhealthy), is that a sin?

Which is worse, being fit but eating meat or being obese and vegetarian?

Is one sin worse than another? Does it really matter?

The reality is that if you sin, you sin. End of story. But if you take Jesus as your personal saviour, He will help you not sin, and not want to sin.

So I don't think it even matters. If you know it's wrong to be obese, and you continue to eat in such a way that puts on more weight, you are not following the word of the lord. You must lose weight, and be fit and trim.

All sins are equal in my opinion. The act does not matter, only that it's against the word of the lord.

I have not found in scripture nor in the writings of Ellen White that being over weight or obese is a sin.

The obese person is an easy target for jokes, and prejudice, and preconceive judgment. Let us remember man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh upon the heart.


While we may most likely find it true of many SDA churches, as it is in your church, that there are many who are overweight or obese, let us not sit in judgment of them. There are many reasons for obesity, that are not necessarily the result of over eating.

In fact the person may actually eat less then then the “Skinny Minnie” sitting behind them. I have know a number of skinny men that are always eating, anything and everything, and never gain an ounce, but many endogenous people will become quite obese on the “standard western diet”.

Even though scripture and SOP don't use the word "obese", I think you have to admit that being overweight is a sin. Being overweight directly leads to diabetes, an increased work load for your heart, and a whole host of other problems. I don't think that anybody would argue against the fact that obese people get less physical exercise than someone one of more moderate weight (often due to sore body parts from carrying more weight than the human body was designed to carry).

Our body is the temple of God, and thus we should keep it ready for Him to inhabit. In all things we should attempt to keep our body healthy, including, but not limited to: eating a healty diet (as outlined by SOP and a lot of other great christians), getting regular cardiovascular exercise (it sends fresh oxygenated blood to the brain, which helps us keep a clear head to speak with God), and maintaining a healty weight to keep the working parts working.

I agree that we should NOT judge others (no matter the issue), and that's not what I'm doing. I also agree that not all obesity is from overeating (thyroid problems are only one of a host of metabolic issues that can cause weight gain). But that doesn't mean we should just "let ourselves go". I think God want's us to be healthy, to have a glow about us, so that others may see how God is working in our lives. I think it's one of the reasons this church has found the health care message. And part of that includes maintaining a healthy weight. But if you KNOW you are overeating, or underexercising, or not looking out for the one body that God has given us, then to me it is a sin to be overweight (once again, not including untreated medical issues). But even if it's a medical issue, I think God does want us to look into it, and fix, adjust, or alter our lives in such a way to keep our bodies healthy.

Is gluteny a sin?

fun2believe, you are coming across as being rather harsh on the obese.

I agree that being overweight is unhealthy, and leads to disease and many health problems.

I do not agree that being overweight or obese is a sin. I do not find that the Bible or SOP teach that it is a sin. But maybe I am not looking in the right place, perhaps you could share from scripture or SOP, that obesity is a sin?

That being said, there is lust and gluttony that are sins.
Deuteronomy 21:20, 21



Gotta appreciate some of Ellen's descriptions. "walking in the light of the sparks of their own kindling."

I would just like to say that I am a 'firm' believer in watching weight.

Weight watching catches some eyes - but not all or even most. They said recently that a fat gene has been isolated: whatever the possible medical reasons, personal responsibility is your real point...

Neglect of health awareness makes one liable - to sin?...Surely yes, given health's part of sanctified living, not so?

Having Read this thread I not only think that it is a bit harsh on the overweight, but am also put in mind of a few texts I wonder if you have read:

Psalm 92:12-14 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psalm 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Psalm 65:11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

Somehow in the scriptures the bible refers to fatness and making you fat as a blessing from God.....

I am not saying that everyone who is overweight shouldn't do anything about it nor am I advocating being unhealthy as others have pointed out already, gluttony is a sin, but I am pointing out that God's Idea of healthy does not agree with our modern Skinny is best attitude....I would also appeal for you to look at people such as rugby players, they are generally pretty fat as far as normal stadards go, but in fact they are tremendously healthy, and have a smaller fat% than you or I so just by looking at someone you cannot tell whether they are healthy fat or not.....

You left one out that states all the fat is the Lords.