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.
บทคัดย่อระบาดของโรคอ้วนที่เพิ่มขึ้นในตะวันตกโดยทั่วไปและสหรัฐอเมริกาโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งจะส่งผลให้สุขภาพเสื่อมสภาพก่อนวัยอันควรและเริ่มมีอาการของโรคที่หลีกเลี่ยงได้และค่าใช้จ่ายในการดูแลสุขภาพมากเกินไป ชุมชนทางศาสนาไม่ได้เป็นภูมิคุ้มกันทางสังคมเหล่านี้เงื่อนไข การเปลี่ยนพฤติกรรมสุขภาพในชุมชนต้องมีการป้อนข้อมูลทั้งจากบุคคลที่มีความรู้และความน่าเชื่อถือและผู้ชมที่กว้าง หนึ่งในกลุ่มของบุคคลที่อาจจะได้รับตำแหน่งที่ไม่ซ้ำเพื่อส่งเสริมการเปลี่ยนแปลงชุมชนแต่ได้รับการละเว้นความจริงในสุขภาพที่นำมาใช้และวรรณคดีจิตวิทยาการให้คำปรึกษาทางศาสนาเป็นผู้นำ 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.
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