# Atheists more likely to be obese? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877 "2011-06-26T02:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dostoyevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Dostoyevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostoyevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/1 "2011-06-26T02:14:01Z")
[Conservapedia](http://conservapedia.com/Psychology,_obesity,_religiosity_and_atheism) says “Yes!” On a serious note, are there any serious (i.e. NOT Conservapedia) studies on the subject of how belief and nonbelief influence weight? I was raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church and remember most churchgoers being significantly overweight, but I’m not sure if this is simply my personal experience or a national trend. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/2 "2011-06-26T02:20:32Z")
Atheism has nothing to do with diet, so I really doubt there’s anything to that idea. However, given that some religious sects have various dietary rules I suppose it’s possible that people belonging to those particular sects are on average _skinnier_. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/3 "2011-06-26T02:23:52Z")
Isn’t the rate of obesity increasing faster in the more religious southern U.S. states? ---
**Author:** ![Dostoyevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Dostoyevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostoyevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/4 "2011-06-26T02:24:48Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Isn’t the rate of obesity increasing faster in the more religious southern U.S. states? I think so, but I have no evidence of it. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/5 "2011-06-26T02:28:51Z")
\*\ \*Well, [what do you know](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42256829/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/praise-lard-religion-linked-obesity-young-adults/) there may actually be a link between religious activity and obesity. That certainly hadn’t occurred to me. ---
**Author:** ![Dostoyevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Dostoyevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostoyevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/6 "2011-06-26T02:30:32Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > \*\ > > \*Well, [what do you know](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42256829/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/praise-lard-religion-linked-obesity-young-adults/) there may actually be a link between religious activity and obesity. That certainly hadn’t occurred to me. You do realize that you’re implying Conservapedia is wrong, right? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/7 "2011-06-26T02:32:05Z")
> [@Dostoyevsky](#): > > You do realize that you’re implying Conservapedia is wrong, right? Shocking, I know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/8 "2011-06-26T03:24:19Z")
Since atheism would seem to slant heavily towards more educated people, income tends to rise with education, and more income means better quality food (and less fast food), it would follow that atheists would tend to be less obese than non-atheists. Or even more simply, smart people are less likely to be fat because they are more aware of the consequences AND how to avoid obesity in the first place. Feel free to hack away at any of the points above. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/9 "2011-06-26T03:35:26Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Since atheism would seem to slant heavily towards more educated people, income tends to rise with education, and more income means better quality food (and less fast food), it would follow that atheists would tend to be less obese than non-atheists. > > Or even more simply, smart people are less likely to be fat because they are more aware of the consequences AND how to avoid obesity in the first place. > > Feel free to hack away at any of the points above. Makes sense, but the study linked above claimed to have controlled for all the obvious factors (income, education, gender, etc) and still found a strong effect. ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/10 "2011-06-26T03:35:34Z")
For the love of God people this thread should have stopped at post #4, and Post #4 should have read “Thanks for the reminder that correlation does not equal causation **Bryan Ekers** ”. Do not allow this thread to have more posts attempting to make bizarre theories from a [3rd variable problem](http://wwwi.scottsdalecc.edu/ricker/psy101/readings/definitions/third_variable.html). edit: **Simplico** - it didn’t find an effect it found a correlation. They can control variables until the cows come home but it is still just a correlation. C’mon. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/11 "2011-06-26T04:03:56Z")
It isn’t a direct correlation, but the fattest areas of the nation also generally seem to be the most religious. The south has the most of both and the northwest and northeast have the least of both. [![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IyV9T_OlUro/TGDlIw7q25I/AAAAAAAADGM/q1mEOHYLBME/s1600/rel.png) ](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IyV9T_OlUro/TGDlIw7q25I/AAAAAAAADGM/q1mEOHYLBME/s1600/rel.png) [http://f00.inventorspot.com/images/Untitled-1\_57.jpg](http://f00.inventorspot.com/images/Untitled-1_57.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/12 "2011-06-26T04:29:28Z")
If this is true then it is proof that God has a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/13 "2011-06-26T04:39:50Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Atheism has nothing to do with diet, so I really doubt there’s anything to that idea. However, given that some religious sects have various dietary rules I suppose it’s possible that people belonging to those particular sects are on average _skinnier_. Yeah, ISTR (no cites, alas) that Mormons and Seventh-Day Adventists tend to be slimmer and healthier than average. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/14 "2011-06-26T04:55:34Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > For the love of God people this thread should have stopped at post #4, and Post #4 should have read “Thanks for the reminder that correlation does not equal causation **Bryan Ekers** ”. Do not allow this thread to have more posts attempting to make bizarre theories from a [3rd variable problem](http://wwwi.scottsdalecc.edu/ricker/psy101/readings/definitions/third_variable.html). > > edit: **Simplico** - it didn’t find an effect it found a correlation. They can control variables until the cows come home but it is still just a correlation. C’mon. I think you are missing the point. Conservapedia says atheists are more likely to be overweight. Turns out not only are they wrong but they are 180 degrees wrong. It’s not like some liberal media person said teh religious is phat. WTF is up with conservatives and reality? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/15 "2011-06-26T05:10:50Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > WTF is up with conservatives and reality? They don’t get along. Too many broken promises. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/16 "2011-06-26T18:57:03Z")
It’s all those church potlucks. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/17 "2011-06-26T19:03:43Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > I think you are missing the point. Conservapedia says atheists are more likely to be overweight. Turns out not only are they wrong but they are 180 degrees wrong. It’s not like some liberal media person said teh religious is phat. > > WTF is up with conservatives and reality? They’re substituting their own. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/18 "2011-06-26T19:07:15Z")
Whatever this is, it is not a debate. It also does not seem much like an opinion poll, so I guess that its next home will be MPSIMS. (I’m going to have to consider getting a rule created that states that any OP in Great Debates that cites Conservapedia will automatically be moved to a joke forum, (preferably off the SDMB).) [/Modding] ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/19 "2011-06-27T00:03:50Z")
Correlation is not causation, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877/20 "2011-06-27T00:55:25Z")
Fat motherfucking brother-murdering atheists. If I see them clacking with their Birkenstocks trying to talk about Jesus. Kill them motherfuckers dead! FTR I’m not that fat anymore, and when I was at my heaviest, I was reading heavy into Austrian Economics (thanks B. Smith! thanks Nozick!). Correlation? Nerd = fatass. Maybe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-more-likely-to-be-obese/586877.md?page=2)