From Conservapedia

[1] According to the [2] Two of the major risk factors for becoming obese according to the Mayo Clinic are poor dietary choices and inactivity.According to the Gallup Inc. , "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."

The current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.[3] Most atheists are East Asians (see: Asian atheism). See: Global atheism and Western atheism and race

Secular Europe and communist China have significant problems with obesity (see: Secular Europe and obesity and China and obesity). In addition, Australia has a significant problem with obesity (see: Australia, irreligion and obesity).

In the United States at the present time, the greater the degree of irreligiosity in a generation, the higher their obesity rate is.

According to the Gallup Inc., "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."[4]

Gallup declared concerning the study which measured the degree to which religiosity affects health practices: "Generalized linear model analysis was used to estimate marginal scores all five reported metrics after controlling for age (in years), gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education (number of years), log of income, and region of the country... Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2-July 28, 2010, with a random sample of 554,066 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling.[5]

The Gallup study gives some insight into the above average health habits of the very religious and not necessarily the health habits of atheists. The reason is that the Gallup organization defines a non-religious as a person where "Religion is not an important part of daily life and church/synagogue/mosque attendance occurs seldom or never. This group constitutes 29.7% of the adult population."[6] While many Western atheists are non-religious, not all non-religious people are atheists.

Gallup further declares:

“ Very religious Americans make healthier choices than their moderately religious and nonreligious counterparts across all four of the Healthy Behavior Index metrics, including smoking, healthy eating, and regular exercise. Smoking is one area of particular differentiation between the very religious and less religious Americans, with the nonreligious 85% more likely to be smokers than those who are very religious.[7] ”

A 2010 study reported in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion found that for Korean women living in California, religion "may help prevent obesity."[8]

Studies on religion and self-control

See also: Atheism and gluttony and Atheism and hedonism and Jesus Christ, the apostles and the Mediterranean diet/Mosaic diet

[9] Obesity is positively associated with impulsiveness, lower self-discipline and neuroticism

In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications, psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.[10][11] Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in Psychological Science found that religion replenishes self-control.[12][13] Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.[14] [15] See also: Atheism and hedonism

Obesity, religion/irreligion and some general causes of obesity

From a medical perspective, an obese person has accumulated enough body fat that it can have a negative effect on their health. If a person's weight is at least 20% higher than it should be, he/she is generally considered obese. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9 you are considered overweight.[16] If your BMI is 30 or over you are considered obese.[17] The term obese can also used in a more general way to indicate someone who is overweight.[18]

Two of the major risk factors for becoming obese according to the Mayo Clinic are poor dietary choices and inactivity.[19] Most individuals are overweight due to their dietary and exercise habits.[20] See also: Bariatric science

Atheism and sedentary lifestyles

See also: Atheism and sedentary lifestyles and Atheism and motivation and Atheism and physical fitness

Sedentary lifestyles reduce life expectancy.[22]

The journal article Spirituality and Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among Latino Men and Women in Massachusetts which was published in the journal Ethnicity and Disease declared: "There is a significant negative relationship between spirituality and sedentary behavior."[23]

In addition, numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.[24] See also: Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism

Atheism, motivation and exercise

See also: Atheism and motivation

Motivation plays an important role in one's desire to exercise.[25]

According to Scientific American: "Research also suggests that a religious brain exhibits higher levels of dopamine, a hormone associated with increased attention and motivation."[26] See also: Atheism and the brain

Irreligion/nonreligious regions of the world and sedentary lifestyles

Irreligion/nonreligious regions have populations with significant problems when it comes to engaging in sedentary behavior (see: Irreligion/nonreligious regions and sedentary behavior).

See also:

The Bible, atheism, gluttony, sloth and health

Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, which he helped found. In addition, he served as the executive director of the New England Skeptical Society.[27]



Before his death, he had type 2 diabetes.[28] He died at the age of 43 after enduring a long struggle with several chronic illnesses.[29] The atheist Perry DeAngelis co-hosted the podcast, which he helped found. In addition, he served as the executive director of the New England Skeptical Society.Before his death, he had type 2 diabetes.He died at the age of 43 after enduring a long struggle with several chronic illnesses.

See also: Jesus Christ and the Mediterranean diet/Mosaic diet and Atheism and sloth

The Bible declares that gluttony and sloth are sins.[30][31] On the other hand, atheists engage in denialism concerning the existence of sin and indicate that sin does not exist.

Furthermore, the Bible declares the physical body of Christians to be temples of the Holy Spirit.[32] While there are many atheists who recognize the vast amount of medical data indicating the harmful effects of being overweight, there have been atheists who have engaged in denialism and have very much agreed with the fat acceptance movement (See: Atheism and the fat acceptance movement). Furthermore, atheists have been interviewed by major news outlets and have advocated the fat acceptance movement.[33]

Atheism and some causes of obesity: Studies and historical data

Obesity is positively associated with impulsiveness, lower self-discipline and neuroticism.[34] In addition, many people overeat in response to negative emotions such as depression, anger, anxiety and boredom.[35][36][37]

Atheism and negative emotions: Studies and historical data

See: Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

Atheism and anger

In January of 2011, CNN reported: "People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist."[38]

The Apostle Paul defends his preaching (Giovanni Ricco)

Atheism and hedonism

See also: Atheism and hedonism

In addition, Christians have good reasons to believe a hedonist lifestyle is a causal factor of atheism (see: Causes of atheism).[39] The Apostle Paul wrote that in the end times, men would be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4). In May of 2012, the World Health Organization reported that "Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980."[40] In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these, over 200 million men and approximately 300 million women were obese.[41]

For more information, please see: Atheism and hedonism

Dietary practices of atheists

See: Dietary practices of atheists (Dietary habits of various irreligious regions)

Atheism/theism and general health issues

See also: Atheism and health and Atheism and suicide

[42] The prestigious Mayo Clinic found that that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.

There is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism [43] (For more information, please see: Atheism and health and Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism).

The prestigious Mayo Clinic reported the following on December 11, 2001:

“ In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes. The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.[44] ”

The Iona Institute reported:

“ A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.[45][46] ”

[47] Most individuals are overweight due to their dietary and exercise habits.

In December of 2003, the University of Warwick reported:

“ Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas are on the whole likely to be happier.[48] ”

See also: Atheism and depression and Atheism and suicide and Atheism and alcoholism

Duke University has established the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.[49] The Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health is based in the Center for Aging at Duke and gives opportunities for scholarly trans-disciplinary conversation and the development of collaborative research projects.[50] In respect to the atheism and mental and physical health, the center offers many studies which suggest that theism is more beneficial than atheism.[51]

Atheism, obesity and diabetes

See: Atheism and diabetes

Atheism, obese populations and Alzheimers' disease

See: Atheism, obese populations and Alzheimers' disease

Irreligion/religion, geography and obesity

[52] In 2014, the British medical journal Lancet reported that the the Chinese have the second highest obesity rate in the world.[53][54]



A recent study published in the Obesity Reviews journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [55] See: China has the largest atheist population in the world.In 2014, the British medical journalreported that the the Chinese have the second highest obesity rate in the world.A recent study published in thejournal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of diabetes was four times that of their American peers.See: Atheistic China and obesity

Atheistic geographic areas and obesity

Atheistic China and obesity

See also: China and obesity

China has the largest atheist population in the world.[56] In 2014, the British medical journal Lancet reported that the the Chinese have the second highest obesity rate in the world.[57][58]

A recent study published in the Obesity Reviews journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of diabetes was four times that of their American peers.[59]

For more information, please see: Atheistic China and obesity

Secular Europe and obesity

See also: Secular Europe and obesity

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported:

“ Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults. Estimates of the number of overweight infants and children in the WHO European Region rose steadily from 1990 to 2008. Over 60% of children who are overweight before puberty will be overweight in early adulthood.[60] ”

Godless Czech Republic and obesity

See also: Czech Republic and obesity

[61] In 2013, the website Expats.cz reported that the Czech Republic was the fattest country in Europe.

From a historical perspective, the Czechs have been characterised as "tolerant and even indifferent towards religion".[62] According to the 2011 census, 34.2% of the Czech population declared they had no religion, 10.3% was Roman Catholic and 10.2% followed other forms of religion both denominational and nondenominational. Furthermore, 45.2% of the population did not answer the question about religion.[63] From 1991 to 2001 and further to 2011 the adherence to Roman Catholicism decreased from 39.0% to 26.8% and then subsequently to 10.3%.[64]

In 2013, the website Expats.cz reported:

“ According to the State of Food and Agriculture 2013 report by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (www.fao.org), the Czech Republic ranks as the fattest country in Europe, based on the prevalence of obesity among adults. 28.7% of adults in the Czech Republic are considered obese based on the figures, which are dated 2008.[65] ”

Godless Britain and obesity

See also: United Kingdom and obesity

The Mirror reported that according to the Lancet, British girls are the most overweight girls in [66] In May of 2014, the British paperreported that according to the British medical journal, British girls are the most overweight girls in Western Europe

A Eurobarometer poll in 2010 reported that 37% of UK citizens "believed there is a God", 33% believe there is "some sort of spirit or life force" and 25% answered "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".[67]

In 2014, The Telegraph reported:

“ The British are among the most sceptical in the world about religion, a global study has found. Just over a third of people in the UK believe religion has a positive role to play in our daily lives, compared to a global average of 59 per cent.[68] ”

Professor Terence Stephenson in Measuring Up, a report on the nation's obesity crisis by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), called Britain "the fat man of Europe".[69]

In May 2014, the British paper The Mirror reported that according to the British medical journal Lancet, British girls are the most overweight girls in Western Europe.[70] In Britain, 29.2% of girls under the age of 20 are classed as excessively heavy with just over 8% meeting the clinical definition of obesity.[71]

In 2015, Mashable reported about Britain:

“ Ten new "healthy towns" designed to get people to exercising more, eating healthily and live independently during old age are to be built across the country, NHS England announced on Tuesday. The towns — comprising more than 76,000 affordable homes — will include fast food-free zones near schools, safe green spaces, "dementia-friendly" streets and accessible GP services. Designed to tackle obesity and dementia, the towns will have a potential capacity for approximately 170,000 residents. While some developments are already being built, others will not be completed until 2030, however. A recent WHO report revealed the extent of Britain's growing obesity crisis, with figures suggesting that 74% of men and 64% of women will be overweight by 2030.[72] ”

Rapid growth of global Christianity and the health habits of Christendom

See also: Global Christianity and Atheist population and Atheism and health

Jesus Christ ate a healthy diet as He ate a Mediterranean diet which is a very healthy diet according to medical science (see: Jesus Christ, the apostles and the Mediterranean diet/Mosaic diet).[73][74]

Christianity is the world's largest religion and it has seen tremendous growth over its 2000 year history.[75] In the last fifty years, Christianity has recently seen explosive growth outside the Western World.[76] In 2000, there were twice as many non-Western World Christians as Western World Christians.[77] In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were Western World Christians.[78] Of course, a big reason for the explosive growth of Christianity outside the Western World was due to highly religious people propagating the Christian faith and there are now more non-Western World missionaries than Western World missionaries.[79]

Besides non-Western World individuals often being less sedentary, non-Western World diets are often healthier than the diets Western World people consume and there is significantly less obesity in many non-Western World cultures.[84] For example, the traditional African diet is healthier than many Western World peoples' diets and Africa has some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.[85][86] In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.[87]

Therefore, in recent history Christendom has seen a large influx of very religious people who live healthy lifestyles and have low levels of obesity.

The Reason Rally was billed as the largest secular event in history.[88] When one compares pictures the attendees of the Reason Rally with attendees of the 2014 Cfan Christ For All Nations gospel crusade held in Barundi, Africa, there was a significant higher proportion of attendees of the Reason Rally who were overweight/obese.[89][90][91][92]

According to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and agnostic, "Irreligion in the Philippines is particularly rare among Filipinos...".[93] Furthermore, according the CIA's World Factbook, the Philippines was ranked in 169 out of 192 in terms of its obesity rate in 2016 and its obesity rate was merely 6.20% which is low compared to many countries.[94] Beauty pageants are very popular in the Philippines and they have had a winning streak in major international beauty pageants.[95] See: Religious Philippines winning streak in the major international beauty pageants

At the same time, many pastors in the Western World are indicating that a large segment of Western Christendom is acting like the prosperous, first century Corinthian and Laodicean churches who were undisciplined, ungodly and had a lukewarm commitment to the Christian faith and were commanded to repent (See also: Western ungodliness, prosperity, decadence and obesity).[96] Yet, as noted above, according to the Gallup Inc., "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."[97] The troubled Church of Corinth repented of their ungodliness after being corrected by the Apostle Paul.[98][99]

Many nations with a Christian heritage or who are increasingly adopting Christianity are prosperous due to the contributions that Christianity brings to science, technology, economics and a nation's work ethic (see: Christianity and science and Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Atheism and economics).[100]

[101] In addition, Jesus ate a healthy [102][103] Therefore, unlike many overweight atheists today, Jesus very likely maintained a healthy weight. Jesus Christ worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty years old. Jesus had no electric power tools as carpenters do today, but worked with hand tools made of iron. Then for about three years, Jesus was an itinerant preacher.In addition, Jesus ate a healthy Mediterranean diet Therefore, unlike many overweight atheists today, Jesus very likely maintained a healthy weight.

Jen McCreight, is an atheist and feminist columnist and blogger who has served on the Board of Directors of the Secular Student Alliance and she was also the cofounder and three-year president of Society of Non-Theists at Purdue University.[104][105] She wrote an article on atheism and obesity in 2011 where she indicated a desire to "shed a few pounds".[106] In 2011, a video with Jen McCreight was published as part of the We Are Atheism campaign. In this video, she was overweight.[107]

Despite the fact that a strong majority of Christendom lives outside the Western World and is slimmer than many atheists in the Western World, Jen McCreight wrote an article on atheism and obesity where she cherry picked some data relative to some states in the United States with higher obesity rates than other states without mentioning the underlying socioeconomic/cultural factors related to this matter.[108]

Historically, the Western atheist/evolutionist community has often shown socioeconomic/racial/cultural insensitivity and also displayed hypocrisy relative to this matter (See: Western atheism and race and Social Darwinism and Evolutionary racism and Atheism and uncharitableness). Atheists within racial minority populations and within the female population often complain that there is no significant outreach to their communities within the larger atheist community (see also: Atheism and women).[109][110]

Irreligion/religion, generations in the United States and obesity

See also: Irreligion/religion, recent generations in the United States and obesity

In the United States at the present time, the greater the degree of irreligiosity in a generation, the higher their obesity rate is. For more information, please see the three articles directly below.

Generation Z, irreligion and obesity

See: Generation Z, irreligion and obesity

Millennials, irreligion and obesity

See: Millennials, irreligion and obesity

Generation X, irreligion and obesity

See: Generation X, irreligion and obesity

Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity

See: Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity

Ireland, irreligion and obesity

See also: Ireland, irreligion and obesity

In Ireland, the more irreligious Ireland has become, the bigger the obesity problem has become (see: Ireland, irreligion and obesity).

Weight loss, religious India, vegetarianism and its low rate of convinced atheism

See also: Atheism and veganism and New Atheism and veganism and Richard Dawkins on veganism and Religion and vegetarianism

A vegetarian/vegan diet can help with weight loss efforts.[113]

In 2007, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations statistics indicated that Indians had the lowest rate of meat consumption in the world.[114] India has more vegetarians than the rest of the world put together.[115]

3% of Indians are convinced atheists.[116]

See also: Religion in India

American Atheists: 2010 overweight Board of Directors issue

See also: American Atheists and obesity and Atheist hypocrisy

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was the founder of the American Atheists organization and she was overweight.[117] One of the last pictures taken of Madalyn Murray O'Hair features her standing before a cake as can be seen HERE.

A few years before O'Hair's murder, she had to have hip replacement surgery (According to the Harvard Medical school, "Losing weight, strengthening muscles, and increasing flexibility may help you stave off joint replacement."[118]).[119] Interestingly, it was her artificial hip that allowed law enforcement authorities to identify her remains.[120]

On December 28, 2010, the pictures of the members of the American Atheists organization's board of directors showed a significant portion of its members having excess body weight. Members of the American Atheists board of directors who were overweight as of December 28, 2010 included: Richard Andrews, Blair Scott, Monty Gaither, and Ann Zindler. A picture of an overweight Richard Andrews can be found HERE. Pictures of an overweight Blair Scott can be found HERE and HERE. A picture of an overweight Monty Gaither can be found HERE. A picture of an overweight Ann Zindler can be found HERE.

Research suggests that extra pounds and large waists undermine perceptions of leadership ability.[121] In addition, according to medical science, there are a number of health risks associated with obesity (see: Health risks linked to obesity).

Matt Dillahunty: Atheist activist and member of the Board of Directors of the American Atheists organization

Wikipedia, a website founded by an atheist and agnostic, declares concerning Matt Dillahunty:

“ Matthew Wade Dillahunty (born March 31, 1969) is an American atheist activist. He was the president of the Atheist Community of Austin from 2006 to 2013. He has hosted the Austin-based webcast and cable-access television show The Atheist Experience since 2005, and formerly hosted the live Internet radio show Non-Prophets Radio. He is also the founder of and a contributor to the counter-apologetics encyclopedia Iron Chariots and its subsidiary sites. He is regularly engaged in formal debates and travels the United States speaking to local secular organizations and university groups as part of the Secular Student Alliance's Speakers Bureau. Alongside fellow activists Seth Andrews and Aron Ra, he traveled to Australia in March 2015 as a member of the Unholy Trinity Tour. In April 2015 he was an invited speaker at the Merseyside Skeptics Society QEDCon in Manchester, United Kingdom. Beginning in the summer of 2017, Dillahunty joined a speaking tour sponsored by the Pangburn Philosophy foundation where he shared the stage with fellow atheists Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Lawrence Krauss.[123] ”

Dillahunty serves on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization and he was elected in 2015.[124]

Pictures of an overweight Matt Dillahunty can be found HERE and HERE.

Dillahunty became irritated when a Japanese supporter suggested he lose weight for health reasons

In 2017, Matt Dillahunty became very irritated when a Japanese supporter suggested he lose more weight so Dillahunty would live longer.[125] However, Dillahunty admitted that he was "fat" and it was a result of his choices.[126]

Nick Fish: American Atheists National Program Director

In 2018, the American Atheist organization indicated that Nick Fish is their National Program Director.[127]

Pictures of an overweight Nick Fish can be found HERE and HERE.

Mandisa Thomas: Board member of American Atheists organization

[128] Thomas is also the founder and President of [129] As of February 8, 2019, Mandisa Thomas was a board member of the American Atheists organization.Thomas is also the founder and President of Black Nonbelievers

See also: Black atheism

As of February 8, 2019, Mandisa Thomas was a board member of the American Atheists organization.[130] Thomas is also the founder and President of Black Nonbelievers.[131]

Pictures of an overweight Mandisa Thomas can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

A 2019 video of an overweight Madisa Thomas can be seen HERE.

Pamela Whissel: American Atheists organization

In 2018, the American Atheist website indicated that Pamela Whissel is the membership director of their organization.[132] In addition, as of April 16, 2018, she is the editor-in-chief of American Atheist magazine and has held this position since 2011.[133]

A picture of an overweight Pamela Whissel can be found HERE.

Dave/Danielle Muscato: American Atheists

Dave Muscato, the former Public Relations Director for American Atheists, had excess weight. Pictures of an overweight Dave Muscato can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE.

Dave Muscato is a transsexual and now goes by the name Danielle Muscato.[134]

Jamila Bey: American Atheists Board of Directors member in 2013

On August 11. 2013, Jamila Bey was listed as being on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization. A video of an overweight Jamila Bey can be seen HERE.

Aron Ra: Texas State Director of American Atheists

Aron Ra is an atheist activist and vlogger. He is also an ardent evolutionist and vocal critic of creationism. Aron Ra is also the Texas State Director of American Atheists.

Aron Ra is also a feminist and considers the men's rights movement to be an extremist hate group.[135]

A picture of an overweight AronRa can be found HERE. In 2014, a video entitled Aron Ra on faith appeared on YouTube in which Aron Ra appeared to have excess weight.

Dan Ellis: State Director of the American Atheists in Utah

Dan Ellis is the State Director of the American Atheists in Utah.[136]

According to the American Atheists website: "Dan Ellis was born in Brigham City, Utah, and was raised as a member of the state's predominant faith (Mormon), but he never really believed any of it. He officially resigned from the LDS Church and has been an atheist activist for the last eight years."[137]

In addition, the American Atheists website declares concerning Dan Ellis:

“ Dan is the former Media Contact, Vice-President, and President for both Salt Lake Valley Atheists and Atheists of Utah, and is currently serving as Secretary for Atheists of Utah. Dan has been interviewed and featured in both local and national news stories surrounding atheism, satanism, and activism. He has been one of the co-hosts of the Godless Rebelution podcast since 2014.[138] ”

Videos of an overweight Dan Ellis can be found HERE and HERE. In a video Mr. Ellis says, "How was lunch? Ya, I didn't have any so... Don't worry I won't waste away standing here."[139]

A picture of an overweight Dan Ellis can be found HERE.

Steven Foster: State Director of the American Atheists in Arkansas

Steven Foster is the State Director of the American Atheists for the state of Arkansas.[140]

A picture of an overweight Steven Foster can be found HERE.

Jacob Mounts: Assistant State Director of American Atheists in Indiana

Jacob Mounts is an Assistant State Director of American Atheists in Indiana.[141]

According to the American Atheists website: "He is the founder of Tri-state Area Atheists and Skeptics in SW Indiana. He also engages in other humanist and free thinker groups locally, nationally and internationally at various levels of involvement."[142]

A picture of an overweight Jacob Mounts can be found HERE.

Randy Henderson: Former Iowa state American Atheists director

Randy Henderson was a founding member of former president of the Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers organization [143][144] In addition, he formerly served as the Iowa state American Atheists director.[145]

According to the Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers organization:

“ Randy studied three years for ministry in a conservative Bible College called Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas. He finished undergrad studies at Dana College in Blair, Neb. with degrees in Social Sciences and Religion. In the ’70’s he pastored a church that he helped found in Council Bluffs that was a non-denominational congregation that was Charismatic/Pentecostal. Masters degree in Psychology, Counseling with School Counseling endorsement from U. of Neb. Thirty years atheist and agnostic with the American Atheists, formerly as Iowa state AA director and Freedom from Religion Foundation member.[146] ”

A picture of an overweight Randy Henderson can be found HERE.

PZ Myers

See also: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight and Evolutionists and excess weight and Internet atheism and obesity

PZ Myers is an atheist and evolutionist activist in the creation-evolution controversy, contributing to The Panda's Thumb and Pharyngula blogs. Myers is also an associate professor of biology at the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM).

Pictures of a significantly overweight PZ Myers can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

A 2010 picture taken in Australia shows PZ Myers drinking ale/beer and he had excess weight in his abdominal area.[147] In 2010, PZ Myers had health problems related to his heart.[148] In addition, medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.[149]

On June 1, 2011, Myers posted a picture of himself and others on his blog and Myers appeared to no longer have issues with being overweight.[150] However, on February 13, 2013, a video was posted to YouTube entitled, Is church harmful? and Myers appeared to have put on weight subsequent to his June 1, 2011 picture.[151] In addition, a picture taken in 2014 features an overweight PZ Myers.[152]

Given his biological training and the many effective methods of losing weight that medical science, nutritional science and exercise science offer, there is no reason why Myers needs to possess excess weight.

PZ Myers is a leader within the New Atheism movement. A significant amount of leaders within the New Atheism movement have problems with being overweight (see: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight).

Picture of PZ Myers with some of his young overweight fans

In 2011, Vox Day had an individual complain about the notion that the atheist community has a problem with obesity. As a result, on May 19, 2011, Vox Day released a blog post entitled Mailvox: now, who said atheists are fat? where 80% of the people taking a picture with PZ Myers were overweight and PZ Myers was overweight in the picture as well as can be seen HERE.[153] The picture was originally posted on PZ Myer's blog Pharyngula by Myers on May 16, 2011 and an online argument quickly ensued concerning the appearance of the photograph's participants.[154]

During his visit to the Creation Museum PZ Myers had noticeably greater difficulty than others climbing on and off a dinosaur model due to the fact that he was overweight and out of shape. VIDEO

PZ Myers' visit to the Creation Museum

In August 2009, PZ Myers led a group of over 300 atheist and agnostic students on a tour of the Creation Museum.[155] During the visit, Myers had noticeably greater difficulty than others climbing on and off a dinosaur model due to the fact that he was overweight and out of shape.VIDEO

Ironic speech at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention

See also: Atheism and brain function

At the 2010 Global atheist Convention, an overweight PZ Myers likened belief in God to a brain infection plus made the blanket statement that religion makes people stupid and/or do stupid stupid things.[156] As noted above, according to medical science, being overweight causes brain impairment.[157]

PZ Myers in Toronto

A 2008 picture of an overweight PZ Myers meeting with people associated with the Center for Inquiry in Toronto can be found HERE

Please also see: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight

Picture of an overweight atheist Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens was a leader in the New Atheism movement. A picture of an overweight Christopher Hitchens can be found HERE (see also: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight).

Hitchen's heavy drinking and chain-smoking and esophageal cancer

Christopher Hitchens was known for having a history of heavy drinking and chain-smoking.[158][159] Christopher Hitchens was being treated for esophageal cancer likely caused by drinking and smoking up until his death on December 15, 2011.[160][161] Despite his esophageal cancer, when asked by interviewer Charlie Rose if in retrospect he would have engaged in heavy drinking and smoking knowing his present cancer condition, Hitchens said he think he would have done things the same.[162]

Hitchen's excess weight and increased risk of esophageal cancer

As noted above, Hitchens also had problems with being overweight during his life (see also: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight).[163] According to the National Cancer Institute, "obesity is associated with increased risks of cancers of the esophagus."[164]

Daniel Dennett - atheist philosopher

Daniel Dennett is an atheist philosopher and he is considered a leader in the New Atheism movement. A June 10, 2009 picture of an overweight Daniel Dennet can be found HERE In the late 1990s, Dennet had coronary artery bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass surgery reroutes blood around clogged arteries to enhance blood flow and oxygen to the heart).[165][166] In 2003, a a video at Ted was published featuring an overweight Daniel Dennett. In 2013, a video embedded on a The Raw Story article featured an overweight Daniel Dennett.

Also, given that being overweight causes brain impairment and that Daniel Dennet has had issues with being overweight, it is ironic that Dennet's book Consciousness Explained is beloved by those who deny God in favor of a pseudoscientific naturalist philosophy of the mind.[167]

In 2015, Richard Dawkins published a YouTube video where he told an obviously overweight Daniel Dennett who recently had coronary artery bypass surgery, "It is amazing seeing you so fit...".[168]

Victor J. Stenger

Victor J. Stenger (born 1935) is an American physicist, author and outspoken atheist. Victor Stenger is a leader within the New Atheism movement. A picture of an overweight Victor J. Stenger can be found HERE

Richard Leakey

See also: Evolutionists and excess weight

Richard Leakey is an anthropologist, evolutionist and atheist.[171] A 2008 picture of an overweight Richard Leakey can be found HERE. Other pictures of an overweight Leakey can be found HERE and HERE and HERE. In October 2010, he appeared to have a healthy weight.[172] However, a May 2012 picture of Leakey featured HERE in the USA Today had a picture of him where he was once more overweight.

Trent Toulouse (one of the founders of the website RationalWiki)

Trent Toulouse is one of the founders of the atheist/agnostic/skeptic website RationalWiki.[173] He is also one of the board of trustees of the RationalMedia Foundation.[174]

A picture of an obese Trent Toulouse can be found HERE.

The RationalWiki website has a significant amount of content criticizing alternative medicine.[175] Its alternative medicine article describes alternative medicine thusly: "Alternative medicine is any medical treatment that is not part of conventional evidence-based medicine, such as one would learn in medical school, nursing school or even paramedic training."[176] Evidence-based medicine strongly indicates that obesity poses significant health risks.

Carl Benjamin

Carl Benjamin, known by his pseudonym Sargon of Akkad, is an English YouTube commentator with a subscriber base of over 720,000 individuals.[177] He is also an atheist.[178]

He is an anti-feminist who holds anti-Social justice warrior (anti-SJW) views. Politically, he self-identifies as a classical liberal with center-left views.[179]

A picture of an overweight Carl Benjamin can be found HERE.

In October of 2015, Benjamin said in a video: "I don't know why this crosses my mind. Maybe because I'm fat as well".[180]

In 2017, a somewhat slimmer Benjamin appeared at the Mythcon 2017 conference.[181]

Xi Jinping

[182] China's overweight leader Xi Jinping is being compared to Winnie the Pooh. As a result, Chinese censors are banning the name and images of Winnie the Pooh on its social media websites.

In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.[183] See also: China and atheism

Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China, current General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. He is also Chairman of the Central Military Commission.. A picture of an overweight Xi Jinping can be found HERE.

Comparison of Xi Jingpin to Winnie the Pooh

In 2018, The Guardian reported regarding a portly Xi Jinping walking beside a lanky Barack Hussein Obama:

“ Chinese censors have banned the release of Christopher Robin, a new film adaptation of AA Milne’s beloved story about Winnie the Pooh, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Winnie the Pooh character has become a lighthearted way for people across China to mock their president, Xi Jinping, but it seems the government doesn’t find the joke very funny. It started when Xi visited the US in 2013, and an image of Xi and then president Barack Obama walking together spurred comparisons to Winnie – a portly Xi – walking with Tigger, a lanky Obama.[184] ”

Gordon Stein

Gordon Stein (April 30, 1941–August 27, 1996) was an American author, physiologist, atheist activists. According the British newspaper The Independent Stein's main activity was the "acquisition and production of books on free-thought and the paranormal."[185]

Stein served as presidents of the American Rationalists Federation and the Freethought Association.[186] He also served as Vice-President of Atheists United and Vice-President Pacific of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.[187]

In his 1985 debate with the Christian apologist Greg Bahnsen, he was introduced as "one of America's foremost scholars of atheism."[188]

A video of the Greg Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein debate has a picture of Gordon Stein which features a significantly overweight Gordon Stein (see: The Great Debate: Does God Exist? Dr. Greg Bahnsen versus Dr. Gordon Stein). Pictures of an overweight Gordon Stein can be found within the videos located HERE and HERE.

Ed Brayton

See also: Evolutionists and excess weight and Atheism and the suppression of science

Ed Brayton is an atheist blogger at freethoughtblogs.com. His blog Dispatches from the Culture Wars is a prominently featured blog at freethoughtblogs.com. He is also the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of the pro-evolution blog The Panda's Thumb.

Pictures of an overweight Ed Brayton can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

On January 2, 2013, Brayton indicated he had a medical emergency which caused him to require having open heart surgery.[189]

A video of an overweight Ed Brayton at the Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District trail can be HERE. A video of the overweight American atheist Ed Brayton mocking the fit, Christian Chuck Norris can be found HERE. According to Chuck Norris, most obesity in America is the result of hedonism (see: Chuck Norris on the topic of obesity). Other videos of an overweight Ed Brayton can be found HERE and HERE.

George R. R. Martin

[190] George R.R. Martin declared in 2011: "You would consider me an atheist or agnostic. I find religion and spirituality fascinating. I would like to believe this isn't the end and there's something more, but I can't convince the rational part of me that makes any sense whatsoever."

George R.R. Martin is a novelist and short story writer in the genres of fantasy, horror stories and science fiction. In addition, he is a screenwriter and television producer.

When asked about his religious views, Martin replied: "I suppose I'm a lapsed Catholic. You would consider me an atheist or agnostic. I find religion and spirituality fascinating. I would like to believe this isn't the end and there's something more, but I can't convince the rational part of me that makes any sense whatsoever."[191]

Pictures of overweight George R. R. Martin can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

Martin's anger at fans who are speculating about his health and his future time of death

In 2014, The Guardian reported that George Martin became angry about some of his fans speculating about his health and the time of his future death. The fans were concerned that he will not finish his lengthy fantasy series before he dies.[192] In response, in 2014 Martin published a picture in The Guardian which featured him giving those fans a profane gesture using his middle finger (see also: Atheism and profanity).[193]

Niles Eldridge

See also: Evolutionists and excess weight

Niles Eldredge is an American paleontologist, author, and curator in the Department of Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.[194][195] Eldridge and fellow paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould (who was an overweight agnostic) developed the Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium.[196]

Niles Eldredge is an atheist. [197] A picture of overweight Niles Eldridge can be found HERE.

Steven Novella

Steven Novella is a clinical neurologist and assistant professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. In addition, he is a medical advisor to the organization Quackwatch, serves as an associate editor of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, and he is the executive editor of the blog Science-Based Medicine.

Novella is a prominent atheist/skeptic who co-founded the New England Skeptical Society and he serves as their president.[198] The organization's podcast, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, is popular within the skeptical movement. He also participated in the pro-evolution campaign called Project Steve and was one of the first 200 people to contribute the project as a signer.

There are several pictures posted on the internet of Novella where he exhibits possessing excess weight. For example, in 2011 at TAM9 (a global conference of skeptics), a picture was taken of Steven Novella where he is bending over a table and his excess abdominal weight appears to be hanging over his belt as can be seen HERE and HERE. Other pictures where Novella appears to have excess weight can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

Susan Gerbic

Susan Gerbic is an atheist.[199] As can be seen in the picture above taken with Steven Novella, Gerbic is overweight.

Brian Dunning

Brian Dunning is an atheist/agnostic/skeptic, author, podcaster and owner of the website Skeptoid. On July 9, 2012, Dunning wrote: "However, in fairness, 6’1″ and 190 lbs does put me at the bottom end of the “Overweight” range on BMI calculators..".[200]

Larry Moran

See also: Evolutionists and excess weight

Larry Moran serves as a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. His blog Sandwalk is described as "Strolling with a skeptical biochemist". Moran is an atheist.[201] A picture of an overweight Larry Moran can be found HERE.

YouTube atheism

TheAmazingAtheist

As of August of 2012, the most popular YouTube channel run by an atheist is TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel which has over 300,000 subscribers. TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel is produced by an overweight atheist.[202] In one video, TheAmazingAtheist exclaimed "Why am I so fat?"[203]

A picture of an overweight TheAmazingAtheist is located HERE.

On August 12, 2012, an article entitled Atheism: A religion of degenerates declared:

“ TheAmazingAtheists was caught on videotape doing something very perverse and unusual with chocolate syrup, coffee and a banana! The embarrassing episode was dubbed BananaGate. One of the last things TheAmazingAtheist needs in his residence is chocolate syrup given the abundant amount of flab which hangs over his belt... This is another example of atheism being a religion of foolish and depraved clowns.[204] ”

HappieCabbie

As of September of 2011, the atheist who produces the YouTube channel HappieCabbie, which has over 28,000 subscribers, is also overweight.[205]

Greta Christina

Greta Christina is a popular atheist blogger at freethoughtblogs.com. In addition, she is a atheist speaker and author. A 2007 picture of an overweight Greta Christiana can be found HERE. She is in a same-sex marriage with a woman named Ingrid.[206] For years Greta Christina was very much in agreement with the "fact acceptance movement", however, her ardor for the movement became more limited after a serious knee problem prompted her to lose her excess weight.[207] However, in November of 2016 she was overweight again.[208] For more information please see: Atheist Greta Christina and the fat acceptance movement

See also: Lesbianism and obesity and Homosexuality and obesity

Atheist philosopher Keith M. Parsons

Keith M. Parsons is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Houston, Clear-Lake. He has doctorates in philosophy and the history of science.[209] He is an atheist.[210]

Pictures of an overweight Keith Parsons can be found HERE and HERE.

Bruce Gerencser

Bruce Gerencser is an atheist blogger who runs the blog The Way Forward.[211] Pictures of an overweight Bruce Gerencser can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

Michael Nugent

See also: Ireland, irreligion and obesity

[212]



in 2012, Ireland was ranked in the top 11 atheist populations in a survey which questioned 50,000 people from 57 countries across the globe.[213]



Ireland is on course to become the most obese country in Europe, according to the latest figures from World Health Organisation (WHO) experts.[214] See: Michael Nugent is chairperson of the atheist group Atheist Ireland.in 2012, Ireland was ranked in the top 11 atheist populations in a survey which questioned 50,000 people from 57 countries across the globe.Ireland is on course to become the most obese country in Europe, according to the latest figures from World Health Organisation (WHO) experts.See: Ireland, irreligion and obesity

Michael Nugent is chairperson of the atheist group Atheist Ireland.[215]

Pictures of an overweight Michael Nugent can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

Videos featuring an overweight Michael Nugent can be found HERE and HERE.

Stephanie Zvan

Stephanie Zvan is an atheist who has served as the Associate President for Minnesota Atheist and has written for Freethoughtblogs.com at their blog Almost Diamonds.[216] A picture of an overweight Stephanie Zvan can be found HERE.

Picture of an overweight Taslima Nasreen

The atheist Taslima Nasrin is an author who is known for her feminist and anti-Islamic views.[217] Ms. Nasreen has been divorced three times.[218] A picture of an overweight Taslima Nasreen can be found here: HERE

Harvey Forbes Fierstein

Harvey Forbes Fierstein is an American actor, playwright, and voice actor. Fierstein is an atheist/agnostic.[219]

Fierstein said to a reporter from the New York Times: "I was brought up in a home where my father spoke Yiddish, but we were High Holy Day Jews -- and I'm not a High Holy Day Jew at all now. I'm of the community, not necessarily of the religion. But this has really brought out the Jew. I mean, I don't believe in God, I don't believe in heaven or hell, but I pray three or four times a day."[220]

A picture of an overweight Harvey Forbes Fierstein can be found HERE.

Stephen Fry

The atheist Stephen Fry is a English screenwriter, author, playwright, comedian, and film director.[222] A picture of an overweight Stephen Fry can be found HERE and HERE In 2009, the Mail Online reported that Stephen Fry went from being "appallingly corpulent" to having a weight where he can "at last bear to look at himself in the mirror again".[223] However, in March of 2011, Stephen Fry appeared to be once again overweight.[224]

Also, in a January 30, 2012 interview with Charlie Rose, Mr. Fry also had excess weight.[225] In his interview with Charlie Rose, Mr. Fry said that as a young man he hated exercise and sports.[226] Besides being an atheist, Mr. Fry is a homosexual.[227] Traditionally, players in male core sports teams (e.g., football, baseball, basketball,and/or soccer) are more likely to have unfavorable views of homosexuality.[228] See: Homosexuality and obesity and Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism

Perry DeAngelis

The atheist Perry DeAngelis co-hosted the podcast Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, which he helped found.[230][231] In addition, he served as the executive director of the New England Skeptical Society.[232]

Before his death, he had type 2 diabetes.[233] He died at the age of 43 after enduring a long struggle with several chronic illnesses.[234]

A picture of an overweight Perry DeAngelis can be found HERE.

Penn Jillette

See also: Conservapedia's reply to atheist Penn Jillette

Penn Jillette (born 1955) is an American illusionist, comedian, juggler, musician and writer. Penn Jillette is a weak atheist which is a form of agnostic.[235][236] See: Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism

A picture of an overweight Penn Jillette can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

In 2015, Penn Jillette lost about 105 pounds in 4 months and is now at a healthy weight.[237] According to USA Today, Jillette "decided to do something in December, when his doctor, who had him on six different blood pressure medications, told him that if he lost enough weight he would likely not need any meds."[238]

Skepchick writers who have had excess weight challenges

[239] Elyse Anders founded the Women Thinking Free Foundation which has been described as a "science and critical thinking organization focusing on women and women's issues".

See also: Skepchick and Skepchick writers who have excess weight challenges and Atheism and women and Atheism and health

According to Skepchick, "Skepchick is a group of women (and one deserving guy) who write about science, skepticism, feminism, atheism, secularism, and pseudoscience".[240] Yet despite medical science evidence indicating the health risks of excess weight, Skepchick has writers who are overweight (see sections below). See also: Atheist hypocrisy

Elyse Anders

Elyse Anders founded the Women Thinking Free Foundation which has been described as a "science and critical thinking organization focusing on women and women's issues".[241] She also led the Hug Me! I'm Vaccinated campaign which was a vaccine advocacy project. She is a podcaster and is a writer for Shepchick.[242] A 2011 picture of an overweight Elyse Anders can be found HERE. In March of 2013, Anders announced that she "lost a bunch of weight".[243]

Amy Davis Roth - writer at Skepchick

Amy Davis Roth is an atheist who writes for Skepchick.[244][245] Pictures of an overweight Amy Davis Roth can be found HERE and HERE.

Heina Dadabhoy - writer at Skepchick

Heina Dadabhoy is an atheist who writes for Skepchick.[246][247] Pictures of an overweight Heina Dadabhoy can be found HERE and HERE She has written several blog post sympathetic to the ideas of the "fat acceptance" movement.[248] For more information please see: Atheism and the fat acceptance movement

Nikki Massey - Board member of Secular Woman, Inc.

Nikki Massey is an atheist and she serves on the board of directors for Secular Woman, Inc. In addition, she is a part-time blogger and abortion activist.[249][250] A picture of an overweight Nikki Massey at SkepchickCon can be found HERE and HERE In addition, a picture of Nikki Massey can be found HERE.

Massey said she was "Living with chronic pain and fatigue".[251]

Massey died at the age of 35 years old.[252]

Matthew Bulger

Matthew Bulger served on the board of directors for the Secular Student Alliance. In addition, he serves as a legislative associate at the American Humanist Association.[253]

Pictures of an overweight Matthew Bulger can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

Galen Broaddus

Galen Broaddus is a certified Secular Celebrant with the Center for Inquiry.[254] In addition, he is an atheist blogger.[255]

Pictures of an overweight Galen Broaddus can be found HERE and HERE.

Robert M. Price

Karen Sloane

Karen Sloane is the president and co-founder of the Atheist, Skeptics, Knowledge Group in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[256] A picture of an overweight Karen Sloane can be found HERE.

Robert M. Price

Robert M. Price is an American atheist, theologian and professor. He teaches biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry.[257] In addition, he sits on the advisory board of the Secular Student alliance. Price is also a fellow of the Jesus Seminar. In addition, Price is on the board of directors for Republican Atheists.[258]

Pictures of an overweight Robert M. Price can be found HERE and HERE.

Tom Leykis

Tom Leykis is an atheist and American talk radio personality known for hosting the nationally syndicated The Tom Leykis Show from 1994 to 2009, and April 2012 to the present via (internet streamcast/podcast).[259] Pictures of an overweight Tom Leykis can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

Nate Phelps

Nate Phelps is an atheist.[260][261] Nate is currently the Executive Director of the Center for Inquiry Canada.[262] Pictures of an overweight Nate Phelps can be found HERE and HERE.

Maryam Nazamie

The atheist Maryam Nazamie has had issues with being overweight as can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE.

Shelly Mountjoy

As a student at George Mason University, Shelley Mountjoy founded the Secular Student Alliance at George Mason University and served as its President.[263] She is an atheist who won an atheist scholarship awarded by the American Atheists organization, but later chose to withdraw her acceptance of the scholarship.[264]

A 2010 picture of an overweight Shelly Mountjoy can be found HERE. She also appeared in a video where she introduced PZ Myers who presented a lecture on science education.[265] In addition, the Washington Post reported that on July 4, 2010, an atheist Independence Day celebration was hosted at Shelly Mountjoy's parents' house which had a "food table, a drink table and a literature table" (Shelly Mounjoy's parents are Roman Catholic and they were not home for the party).[266]

Sarah Morehead

See also: Sarah Morehead controversy

Sarah Morehead is an atheist and the Executive Director of Recovering from Religion.[267]

A picture of an overweight Sarah Morehead can be found HERE.

Dan Fincke

Dr. Dan Fincke is an atheist who served as an adjunct assistant philosophy professor at Hofstra University, City College of New York (CUNY), and Hunter College (CUNY). In 2014, he ceased engaging in adjunct teaching and focused mainly on offering his own online classes and other philosophical services.[268][269] Fincke is also the main writer for the website Camels With Hammers. Pictures of an overweight Dan Fincke can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

Photo of an overweight Steve Wozniak (atheist/agnostic)

Steve Wozniak - co-founder of Apple Computer.[270] Wozniak wrote: "I am also atheist or agnostic (I don't even know the difference)."[271]

Pictures of an overweight Steve Wozniak can be found HERE and HERE.

Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman is a software freedom activist and also a computer programmer. Stallman wrote that he was "an atheist".[272] Pictures of an overweight Richard Stallman can be found HERE and HERE and HERE

Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was an American author, biochemistry professor st Boston University and an atheist . A picture of an overweight Isaac Asimov can be found HERE.

Asimov had "a heart attack in 1977, and triple bypass surgery in 1983."[273] In 1992, the New York Times reported: "He died of heart and kidney failure, said his brother, Stanley."[274]

Cryonics is a pseudoscience that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally dead (Cryonic procedures are performed shortly after a person's death).[275][276] According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."[277] See: Atheism and cryonics

Gordon Stein

Dr. Gordon Stein (April 30, 1941 – August 27, 1996) was an American author, physiologist and atheist activist. One of the things Dr. Stein is known for is his debate with the Christian apologist Dr. Greg Bahnsen - a debate he is widely recognized to have done poorly in.[278][279][280]

A picture of an overweight Gordon Stein can be found HERE and HERE.

Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong was an overweight Chinese communist leader. On September 2, 1976, he had a serious heart attack and he died on September 9, 1976 in his sleep. Mao had been in a poor health for many years previous to his death.[282]

Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un is an overweight atheist communist dictator. [283][284]

A picture of an overweight Kim Jong-un can be found HERE.

In 2014, Free North Korea Radio reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is getting fatter which is leading to rumors that he is suffering from stress and symptoms of heart disease.[285]

Kim II Sung

The North Korean communist dictator Kim Il Sung was an obese atheist who died of a heart attack.[286]

[287] Portrait of Kim Jong-il. Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack.

A portrait of an overweight Kim II Sung can be found HERE.

Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il was an overweight atheist North Korean communist dictator.[288] Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack. [289]

A portrait of an overweight Kim Jong-il can be found HERE.

A picture of an overweight Kim Jong-il can be found HERE.

Mikhail Gorbachev

See also: Soviet Union and obesity

Mikhail Gorbachev was a leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 till 1991. He was an atheist.[290]

Pictures of an overweight Mikhail Gorbachev can be found HERE and HERE.

Leonid Brezhnev

See also: Soviet Union and obesity and Atheism and smoking and Atheism and cancer

Leonid Brezhnev was a communist dictator in the former Soviet Union.

Pictures of an overweight Leonid Brezhnev can be found HERE and HERE.

Brezhnev had a "stroke in March 1982 and died of a heart attack in November".[291]

According to Wikipedia, "Brezhnev had struggled with several ailments since 1974, most notably heart disease, leukemia, jaw cancer, emphysema and circulatory disease, all of which had been exacerbated by his heavy smoking and obesity."[292]

Georgy Malenkov

See also: Soviet Union and obesity

Georgy Malenkov - Soviet Union politician who briefly succeeded Joseph Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union.[293]

Pictures of an overweight can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

George Melly

See also: Atheism and smoking and Atheism and cancer and Prominent atheists who had cancer and Atheism and Alzheimer's disease

George Melly's battle with cancer and dementia, the Daily Mail reported that Melly "smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day since his teens."[294] In an article entitled, thereported that Melly "smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day since his teens."

Song writer and singer George Melly was an atheist.[295] A picture of an overweight George Melly smoking a cigarette can be found HERE.

On April 17, 2007, the Daily Mail reported that George Melly was battling cancer and dementia.[296]

In addition, the Daily Mail reported:

“ The first hint of problems came seven years ago, when George was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is nearly always caused by smoking - George has smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day since his teens. The condition restricts airflow to the lungs, and the lack of oxygen in the bloodstream means there is not enough blood getting to the organs - most importantly the heart. George ignored instructions to give up smoking but was put on a vast regime of medication, including diuretics to combat fluid build-up.[297] ”

Dara Ó Briain

Dara Ó Briain is an Irish comedian and he is an atheist.[298]

Pictures of an overweight Dara Ó Briain can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

Picture of an overweight atheist writer Carol Ann Duffy

Edmund White

Carol Ann Duffy, CBE,(born 1955) is a Scottish poet and playwright. Carol Ann Duffy is an atheist.[299] A picture of an overweight Ms. Duffy can be found HERE

Edmund White

Edmund White is a author, literary critic, homosexual and an atheist.[300][301] Photos of an overweight Edmund White can be found HERE and HERE.

Picture of an overweight atheist economist Walter Block

Walter Block is an atheist economist. A picture of an overweight Walter Block can be found HERE.

Roy Latham

Roy Latham is a Regional Manager for Republican Atheists and manages some of the states in the Western Region of the United States (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii).[302] Pictures of an overweight Roy Latham can be found HERE and HERE.

Amanda Scott

Amanda Scott was awarded "Atheist Activist of the Year" by the American Atheists organization at their 2015 national convention in Memphis, Tennessee.[303]

Pictures of Amanda Scott with excess weight can be found HERE and HERE.

Sir Kingsley William Amis

Sir Kingsley William Amis, CBE (16 April 1922 – 22 October 1995) was an English writer, critic and teacher. Amis was also an atheist.[304] Kingsley Amis was a serial adulterer and drunkard.[305] Sir Kingsley Amis wrote in a memoir: "Now and then I become conscious of having the reputation of being one of the great drinkers, if not one of the great drunks, of our time".[306] A picture of an overweight Sir Kingsley Amis can be found HERE

Atheist origin of life researcher Aleksandr Oparin

See also: Evolutionists and excess weight

A picture of overweight atheist origin of life researcher Aleksandr Oparin can be found HERE.

A biography of Oparin declares: "Ill health dogged Oparin in his final years, and his death in 1980 was probably the result of a heart attack."[307]

Feminist and atheist Rosika Schwimmer

Rosika Schwimmer (1877–1948) was a Hungarian-born feminist and pacifist. Rosika Schwimmer was an atheist.[308]

Pictures of an overweight Rosika Schwimmer can be found HERE and HERE.

Marquis de Sade experienced grotesque obesity during his life

The perverse and cruel atheist Marquis de Sade experienced grotesque obesity during his life.[309] The French atheist Marquis de Sade wrote sadomasochistic novels which featured rape, bestiality and necrophilia (see Atheism and bestiality).

Paul-Henri Thiry

Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in Europe and he was overweight. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Thiry "used his great wealth to throw the dinner parties for which he is famous."[311]

A portrant of an overweight Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach can be found HERE.

Beth Ditto

Beth Ditto is a singer. She is also a lesbian and an atheist.[312][313] A 2007 picture of an overweight Beth Ditto is available HERE.

Devin Patrick Kelley

See also: List of atheist shooters and serial killers and Atheism and psychopathy

Devin Patrick Kelley, the mass shooter, was an atheist (see also: List of atheist shooters and serial killers and Atheism and psychopathy).[314]

A picture of an overweight Devin Patrick Kelley can be seen HERE.

Eduardo Pazos

Eduardo Pazos is an organizer for the Miami Secular Humanism Meetup.[315] A picture of an overweight Eduardo Pazos can be found HERE.

Bruce Horst

Bruce Horst, a Texan, decided to become an atheist in 2017 when he became angry that the politically right leaning evangelical Christians he knew didn't like ObamaCare. Horst indicated that he was an overweight man with a family history of heart disease that had trouble finding insurance companies that would cover him.[316]

A picture of an overweight Bruce Horst can be found HERE.

Jeffrey L. Falick

Jeffrey L. Falick wrote about himself that he is the "Secular Humanistic Rabbi of The Birmingham Temple Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in Michigan. He is also certified as a Senior Humanist Celebrant by the American Humanist Association and is president and founder of Humanists of Southeast Michigan."[317]

Falick wrote: "Being self-conscious about my own lifelong struggle with excess weight, I wasn’t going to post anything about the Conservapedia 'featured article' on atheism and obesity."[318]

Michigan State University overweight, atheist professor incident

On October 1, 2012, an overweight, atheist Michigan State University professor stripped naked except for his socks during one of his university classes, declared there was no God, screamed, shouted an obscenity, slammed his hands against the window and pressed his face to the window and then was taken away by police.[319][320] See also: Atheism and health

Atheism, alcoholism and obesity

[321] According to the World Health Organization 's (WHO) regional office in Europe , "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.

See also: Atheism and alcoholism

Heavy drinking and obesity

Research indicates that heavy drinking may contribute to obesity. For example, a study found that frequent, light drinkers (3 to 7 drinking days per week, 1 drink per drinking day) had lower BMIs than infrequent, but heavier drinkers.[322]

Atheists, atheistic cultures and excess alcohol usage

Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: Atheism and alcoholism).

Secular Europe:

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.[323]





Australia:

An Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) report indicated that 20% of Australians drink at levels putting them at risk of lifetime harm.[324]

For more information, please see: Irreligious Australia and alcoholism





[325] Between 1940 and 1980, this [326] Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic Soviet Union Between 1940 and 1980, this atheist state had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.

Asian countries:





Atheism, alcoholism and anger

Atheism, alcoholism and anger



History of communism:

Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic Soviet Union.[327] Between 1940 and 1980, this atheist state had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.[328]





Irreligion, alcoholism and various generations in the United States



Recent generations in the United States:

Internet atheism and obesity

See also: Internet atheism

[329]



Overweight individuals may need to decrease their computer and internet usage.[330] The 20% of overweight people who are able to achieve permanent weight loss typically report doing it through engaging in high levels of physical activity, eating a low-calorie, low-fat diet, eating breakfast regularly, self-monitoring weight, and maintaining a consistent eating pattern across weekdays and weekends.Overweight individuals may need to decrease their computer and internet usage.

In an essay entitled How the Atheist Movement Failed Me, an atheist woman noted that participation in the atheist community is often expensive due to the cost of attending atheist conferences and even local atheist meetings in restaurants and bars challenged her modest budget.[331] As a result of the challenges that atheists often have in terms of socializing with each other in person, many atheists turn to the internet in terms of communicating with other atheists.[332] Recently, a few atheist churches have sprung up, but CNN reported that there are questions on whether this movement can last due to an internal schism within the movement (See also: Atheist factions).[333] CNN also poses the question: "Is disbelief enough to keep a Sunday gathering together?".[334]

In 2009, an Australian university study was done concerning the association between leisure time internet and computer use with being overweight/obese and also sedentary.[335] The study concluded: "These findings suggest that, apart from nutritional and physical activity interventions, it may also be necessary to decrease time spent in sedentary behaviors, such as leisure-time Internet and computer use, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity."[336]

In 2013, the prominent atheist PZ Myers declared:

“ If we're going to expand our base and we're going to draw in more people to recognize the virtues of living in a secular world, we need to appeal to more than just that geek and nerd subset of the population. We need to have a wider base. ...I seriously believe that we're on the cusp of a crisis. We're not there yet but it's looming in front of us. Will we adapt and thrive and change the world? Or will we remain an avocation for a prosperous and largely irrelevant subset of the population? Will we become something more than a scattered society of internet nerds? That's what we have to do.[337] ”

Internet nerds are typically less active in sports. As noted above, atheists are not as active in sports as theists. And inactivity is a major risk factor for obesity.

Atheism: Obese, internet atheist meme

The website Knowyourmeme.com published a picture of an obviously obese, internet atheists in front of a computer screen, with a fedora hat on the computer screen table and a tally board on the wall indicating "Internet arguments won".[338]

Irreligion, video gaming and obesity

See also: Irreligion, video game usage and obesity and Video game usage and excess weight

There is social science research showing a positive correlation between video game usage and excess weight (see: Video game usage and excess weight).

Relevant Magazine reported about the journal article in The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion entitled No Other Gods Before Mario?: Game Preferences Among Atheistic and Religious Individuals:

“ A new study of 228 college students found that while just about everyone prefers video games to regular board games (duh), those who claim no religion vastly prefer video games compared to the religious peers. It's a small study, but the director, Chris Burris, has an interesting hypothesis about why atheists prefer video games. Burris believes that atheists tend to be less good at "generating emotionally evocative internal simulations of experience." Simply put, he believes that religious people tend to be more imaginative, and are able to craft their own sense of play around simple games, while non-religious people tend to prefer the concrete rules afforded by video games.[339] ”

See also: Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence

Atheist Stephen Fry on video gaming

The atheist Stephen Fry said, "I do enjoy video gaming... In the early days of games, I would spend hours. I mean literally. I would find it would be 4am and I would say God I have be at work at 6."[340]

Millennials, irreligion and obesity

See also: Millennials, irreligion and obesity

The Pew Research Center defines "adult Millennials" as those who are 18 to 33 years old, born between 1981–1996.[341]

[342][343]



Kang says on her website, "I am passionate about my faith, my family and my fitness."[344] Maria Kang, a non-profit organization founder, model and fitness enthusiast, who is a millenial, posted a viral picture on the internet of her and her three young children with the message "What's your excuse?".Kang says on her website, "I am passionate about my faith, my family and my fitness."

In 2010, the Pew Research Forum reported concerning the millennial generation:

“ By some key measures, Americans ages 18 to 29 are considerably less religious than older Americans... Compared with their elders today, young people are much less likely to affiliate with any religious tradition or to identify themselves as part of a Christian denomination. Fully one-in-four adults under age 30 (25%) are unaffiliated, describing their religion as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular.” This compares with less than one-fifth of people in their 30s (19%), 15% of those in their 40s, 14% of those in their 50s and 10% or less among those 60 and older. About two-thirds of young people (68%) say they are members of a Christian denomination and 43% describe themselves as Protestants, compared with 81% of adults ages 30 and older who associate with Christian faiths and 53% who are Protestants.[345] ”

Commenting on the issue of millennials and obesity, Futurecast wrote in 2009:

“ Gen Y, defined as young adults 18-29, are less active and more obese than earlier generations. “The proportion of young adults 18–29 years of age who were obese more than tripled from 8% in 1971–1974 to 24% in 2003–2004.” “Nearly two-thirds of young adults did not have regular leisure-time physical activity and three-quarters did not report strength-training at least twice a week.”[346] ”

Generation X, irreligion and obesity

See also: Generation X, irreligion and obesity

Generation X is made up of individuals born between 1966 to 1980.

Using data from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), Barry A. Kosmin & Juhem Navarro-Rivera reported:

“ Generation X became more secular and also less Christian (85% in 1990 v. 75% in 2008) as it aged and grew in size. However, the proportion of the cohort identifying with Other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions hardly changed. So the secularizing change mainly occurred at the expense of Catholic self-identification which fell from 33% in 1990 to 26% in 2008.[347] ”

In 2014, Bloomberg News reported about Generation X and obesity:

“ People born from 1966 to 1980, known as Generation X, are fatter and twice as likely to have diabetes as Baby Boomers were at the same age, according to an Australian study that predicts younger generations will be sicker and costlier to care for in old age.[348] ”

Generation X in America, obese atheists and education

See also: Religion and education

In 2014, Philip Schwadel, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, declared that it’s the least-educated members of Generation X who are “most likely to leave religion".[349] See: Religion and education

In the United States, religion is positively correlated to education; a scholarly study published in an academic journal titled the Review of Religious Research demonstrated that increased education is correlated with belief in God and that "education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life."[350][351][352][353] Furthermore, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that higher levels of education is positively correlated with lower rates of obesity.[354]

Researchers at Bowling Green State University found that obesity/excess weight negatively affects one's ability to be accepted into graduate schools. [355]

As noted above, having a lower socioeconomic status, which of course includes education, is positively correlated with obesity.[356]

Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity

See also: Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity

The baby boom generation was born between the years 1946 and 1964.

In 2011, the Pew research foundation reported concerning the United States:

“ Younger generations also are significantly less likely than older ones to affiliate with a religious tradition. This pattern began in the 1970s when 13% of Baby Boomers were unaffiliated with any particular religion, according to the General Social Survey. That compared with just 6% among the Silent generation and 3% among the Greatest generation.[357] ”

On February 5, 2013, Business Insider wrote an article entitled Baby Boomers Are Fatter And Lazier Than Their Parents' Generation in which cited statistics indicating that the baby boomer generation has greater problems with obesity that the previous generation and is also a generation which is less physically active. [358]

The Silent Generation was born from 1925 until 1942. They preceded the baby boom generation.

Atheism, obesity and cancer

See also: Atheism and cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, "...there is consistent evidence that higher amounts of body fat are associated with increased risks of a number of cancers..."[360]

Irreligious countries such as European countries and China, have significant problems with cancer (see: Atheism and cancer). The World Health Organization declares concerning secular Europe: "Europe comprises only one eighth of the total world population but has around one quarter of the global total of cancer cases with some 3.7 million new patients per year."[361]

Denmark, France and Australia have significantly higher rates of individuals holding to an atheistic worldview (see also: Irreligion in Denmark and French atheism and Irreligion in Australia). According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, Denmark, France and Australia have the three highest per capita cancer rates in the world.[362]

According to the American Cancer Society:

“ According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69% of cancer patients say they pray for their health. A recent study published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, suggests a link between religious or spiritual beliefs and better physical health reported among patients with cancer.[363] ”

Atheists and the fat acceptance movement

See also: Atheism and the fat acceptance movement and Atheism and the suppression of science

As noted above, while there are many atheists who accept the vast amount of medical data indicating the harmful effects of being overweight, there have been atheists who have engaged in denialism and have very much agreed with the fat acceptance movement. Furthermore, as noted above, atheists have been interviewed by major news organizations and advocated the fat acceptance movement.[364]

Greta Christina

For years, the prominent atheist, lesbian and feminist Greta Christina was involved in the fat acceptance movement and largely dismissed the abundant medical science data indicating the negative health effects of being overweight. Her fat acceptance beliefs were altered though when she had a serious knee problem which prompted her to lose her excess weight.[365]

Within the feminist movement, there a branch of feminism called fat feminism.[366] The lesbian population in the Western World has a significantly higher rate of obesity (see: Lesbianism and obesity).

Today, Christina has a more limited agreement with the fat acceptance movement, but still considers herself apart of it.[367]

Greta Christina wrote in 2010:

“ And while I have huge disagreements with the fat acceptance movement -- especially with its more extreme denialist edges -- I still think many of its ideas are important, and perceptive, and entirely fair. I have serious disagreements with FA, but I am still very much shaped by it, and I would like to think of myself as an ally of the movement, and even as a member of it. It's just that they don't feel the same way about me.[368] ”

Skepchick writer and feminist Heina Dadabhoy

Skepchick writer and feminist Heina Dadabhoy has written about "fat phobia", fat-hating and also wrote about a television episode "What I did like was seeing a bad fatty positively represented on mainstream-enough television".[369] She has written a number of fat acceptance blog posts.[370]

Website Fierce, Freethinking Fatties

An atheist fat acceptance website is the website Fierce, Freethinking Fatties and the representatives of the website have been featured by major news outlets such as the BBC, NBC, Village Voice, China International Radio and the Huffington Post.[371][372]

Atheism, politics and the fat acceptance movement

Since the majority of atheists are on the left side of the political spectrum (see: Atheism and politics), politically left leaning atheists (such as feminists) who subscribe to fat acceptance movement ideology typically subscribe to the fat acceptance movement's identity politics type complaints of "thin privilege".[373][374][375] Rather than take responsibility for their health choices, they would rather wallow in self-pity and play the victim (As noted above, most individuals are overweight due to their dietary and exercise habits[376]).

Atheism, homosexuality and obesity

See also: Homosexuality and obesity and Lesbianism and obesity

The Bible declares homosexuality to be a sin (see: Homosexuality and the Bible).

The journalist Peter LaBarbera wrote: "Anyone who has researched the subject of homosexuality knows that many of the most staunch advocates of homosexuality are those who hold a decidedly secular outlook."[377] The Bible is against homosexuality (see: Homosexuality and the Bible). See also: Homosexuality and Religious Liberty

Peter LaBarbera also declared:

“ The National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys are given to high schoolers, and the Centers for Disease Control looked at the data from 2001 to 2009 in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the cities of Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York City, San Francisco and San Diego, locales where the schools permitted questions about homosexual identity/behavior, which isn’t always the case in less “progressive” areas. Teens who called themselves “gay, lesbian or bisexual,” or who were unsure, as well as those who didn’t use those labels but had sexual contact only with same-sex people or with both sexes, were found to be more likely than heterosexually identified students to engage in seven out of the 10 risk behavior categories. These were: 1) behaviors that contribute to violence; 2) behaviors related to attempted suicide; 3) tobacco use; 4) alcohol use; 5) other drug use; 6) sexual behaviors; and 7) weight management. (emphasis added)[378] ”

See also: Homosexuality and health and Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence and Homosexuality and murders and Homosexuality and Illegal Drug Use and Mental Health and Homosexuality and Homosexuality and smoking and Homosexuality Statistics

Lesbianism and obesity

See also: Lesbianism and obesity and Homosexuality and obesity and Atheism and marriage

Lesbians have significantly higher rates of obesity.[379]

In 2013, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that 75% of American lesbians are obese.[380] In April of 2007, the American Journal of Public Health analyzed data from 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and the data suggested that American lesbian women were 2.69 times more likely to be overweight and 2.47 times more likely to be obese than all other female sexual orientation groups. [381] The abstract for this study indicated that "lesbians are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality linked to overweight and obesity." [381]

Chubby subculture among male homosexuals

See also: Homosexuality and obesity and Atheism and marriage

Within the male homosexuality community, there is a subculture of overweight/obese homosexuals which is called the chubby culture (an overweight male homosexual within this subculture is called a "chub").[382]

Atheism, homosexuality, sin and obesity

Since the Bible declares gluttony and homosexuality to be sins, no doubt there are obese people and/or homosexuals who reject Christianity, despite the abundant evidence for Christianity, and decide to become or remain atheists rather than repent and become Christians.

Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism

See also: Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism and Atheism and health and Atheism and depression

As noted earlier, many people overeat in response to negative emotions such as depression, anger, anxiety and boredom (see also: Atheism and depression).[383] In addition, obesity is positively associated with neuroticism, impulsiveness, and lower self-discipline.[384][385][386][387]

Concerning atheism and mental and physical health, as noted earlier, there is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism.

As noted previously, the Mayo Clinic reported the following on December 11, 2001:

“ In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes. The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.[389] ”

In December of 2003, the University of Warwick reported:

“ Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas are on the whole likely to be happier.[390] ”

Atheists have higher rates of suicide than the general population. Please see: Atheism and suicide

Duke University has established the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.[391] The Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health is based in the Center for Aging at Duke and gives opportunities for scholarly trans-disciplinary conversation and the development of collaborative research projects.[392] In respect to the atheism and mental and physical health, the center offers many studies which suggest that theism is more beneficial than atheism.[393]

Atheism, obesity and self-esteem

See also: Atheism and self-esteem and Atheism, obesity and self-esteem and Atheism and depression and Atheism and suicide and Atheism, uncharitableness and depression

There are preliminary studies indicating that individuals who reject Christianity in Western cultures have lower self-esteem than the Christian population.[394][395] In addition, obese individuals can have lower self-esteem related to their obesity.[396] In the United States, obese people are often stereotyped as being "lazy, lacking self-discipline and being mentally slow" (Medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.[397]).[398] In March of 2011, USA News and World Report declared that an Arizona State University study suggests that fat stigma has gone global.[399] In addition, parts of the world that once viewed being overweight favorably now hold negative views concerning having extra pounds and also hold negative views concerning overweight individuals.[400] Poor self-esteem has been linked to an increase in suicide attempts and atheists have higher rates of suicide than the general population.[401][402][403] Obese atheists likely have higher rates of suicide than the general public.

Atheistic China and obesity - Additional information

See also: China and obesity

[404] Obesity is growing at an alarming rate in China . More than a quarter of the adult population, or roughly 350 million people, is overweight or obese.

As noted above, China has the world's largest atheist population.[405][406] As noted above, in 2014, it was reported that China's obesity rate has skyrocketed in the last 30 years and the Chinese now have the second highest obesity rate in the world.[407][408]

As indicated above, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that China had approximately 300 million overweight people.[409] In 2014, the British medical journal Lancet analyzed weight trends in 188 countries and reported that more than 28% of Chinese adult men and 27% of the country’s adult women are now overweight or obese.[410]

As mentioned above, according to a 2012 report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of obese children in China has reached 120 million.[411] A recent study published in the Obesity Reviews journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of diabetes was four times that of their American peers.[412] Due to their past one-child policy, which had exceptions, China now has a lot of over-pampered and over-fed children.[413]

Matthew Crabbe, co-author of "Fat China: How Expanding Waistlines are Changing a Nation" declared that China's surging rate of obesity is "a ticking bomb" underneath the country's future economic growth and healthcare system.[414]

In 2014, The Economist declared in an article entitled Chubby little emperors:

“ MORE than 2,000 years ago “Huangdi Neijing”, a classic Chinese medical text, identified obesity as a disease caused by eating too much “fatty meats and polished grains”. Until a generation ago such a diet was an extravagance beyond imagination for all but the elite. But the Chinese waistline has since expanded, and at an alarming rate. More than a quarter of the adult population, or roughly 350m people, is overweight or obese (more than 60m squeeze into the latter camp). That is at least twice as many as are under-nourished. With rising incomes and more diverse diets, Chinese people are consuming much more fatty food and fizzy drinks. Meals now contain more than twice as much oil and meats as in the 1980s. This is producing a health calamity, both in heart disease (which now accounts for over a third of deaths) and in a less-noticed explosion of diabetes, which is closely linked to obesity. The prevalence of diabetes has grown more than tenfold during the past three decades. According to a recent national survey, 11.6% of Chinese adults are diabetic, a share almost as high as in America, whose obesity rate is much greater. With a catastrophic famine still in living memory, it is little surprise that Chinese people have developed a taste for foods rich in fats and sugars.[415] ”

China and Western style food restaurants and China has rapidly become the largest beer market

In China, there is a growing amount of westernized style food establishments that can be found in most reasonably size cities.[416] In addition, China has rapidly become the largest market for beer.[417]

All you can eat buffets in China

All you can eat buffets in China are called 自助餐 (zi zhu can). They typically have Western food as well as Chinese food and are found in large cities such Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Qingdao, etc.[418]

In the Grand View Mall Guangzhou, China they have a place called Las Vegas Buffet. In Guangzhou, they also have several Brazilian meat buffets where they come patrons tables and slice meat of a skewer (This also includes an all you can eat buffet).[419]

Secular Europe and obesity - Additional information

See also: Secular Europe and obesity and Secular Europe

From a global perspective, Europe is more secular than the rest of the world although it does have a considerable amount of religious immigrants who have higher birth rates (see: Atheist population and Global atheism).

As noted above, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported:

“ Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults. Estimates of the number of overweight infants and children in the WHO European Region rose steadily from 1990 to 2008. Over 60% of children who are overweight before puberty will be overweight in early adulthood.[420] ”

United Kingdom and obesity

See also: United Kingdom and obesity

Britain is the birthplace of Darwinism. Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists or agnostics.[421] A Eurobarometer poll in 2010 reported that 37% of UK citizens "believed there is a God", 33% believe there is "some sort of spirit or life force" and 25% answered "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".[422]

On May 28, 2014, The Guardian reported on that the United Kingdom is among worst in Western Europe as far as the level of overweight and obese people.[423] In 2014, in the UK, 67% of men and 57% of women were either overweight or obese.[424]

Professor Terence Stephenson in Measuring Up, a report on the nation's obesity crisis by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) called Britain the "fat man of Europe".[425] In May of 2014, the British paper The Mirror reported that according to the British medical journal Lancet, British girls are the most overweight girls in Western Europe.[426] In Britain, 29.2% of girls under the age of 20 are classed as excessively heavy with just over 8% meeting the clinical definition of obesity.[427] See also: Evolutionists who have had problems with being overweight

UK, alcohol usage and obesity

See also: Britain and alcoholism

On July 29, 2014, The Independent reported:

“ The UK is full of heavy drinkers with bad eating habits who are ignorant, intolerant and too nationalistic – so it’s just as well that we are also very polite. It might sound like a stereotypical list of national traits, but these are the views of more than 5,000 young adults from five different countries who were asked to give their opinion on modern Britain by the British Council.[428] ”

The UK website Alcohol Concern reports:

“ More than 9 million people in England drink more than the recommended daily limits In England, in 2012 there were 6,490 alcohol-related deaths, a 19% increase compared to 2001 Alcohol is 10% of the UK burden of disease and death, making alcohol one of the three biggest lifestyle risk factors for disease and death in the UK, after smoking and obesity. An estimated 7.5 million people are unaware of the damage their drinking could be causing In the UK in 2012-13, there were 1,008,850 hospital admissions related to alcohol consumption where an alcohol-related disease, injury or condition was the primary reason for hospital admission or a secondary diagnosis[429] ”

As noted above, excessive drinking can lead to weight gain (see: Atheism and alcoholism).

Atheism, obesity and loneliness

See also: Atheism, obesity and loneliness

Obesity and loneliness

Loneliness has been linked to numerous physical and mental health problems.[430][431]

One of the emotional problems that is positively associated with obesity is loneliness.[432]

Atheism and loneliness

Compared to religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community prevails, secular countries are often lonelier societies. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower emotional intelligence and lower social skills (see: Atheiam and emotional intelligence and Atheiam and social skills).

For more information, please see:





Compared to the teeming villages of India, a Danish hamlet seemed deserted and closed. To an Indian, accustomed to constant close contact in an extended family and community, Danish life was cold if not nonexistent.[433] The Indian anthropologist Prakash Reddy found Denmark to be a neat and tidy, cozy little society, stiff, rigid and seemingly full of practical, down-to-earth but lonely people, isolated from each other and lacking much sense of religion.Compared to the teeming villages of India, a Danish hamlet seemed deserted and closed. To an Indian, accustomed to constant close contact in an extended family and community, Danish life was cold if not nonexistent.

In 1993, Reuters reported:

“ Indian anthropologist Prakash Reddy has turned the tables on Western colleagues who put Third World cultures under the microscope. Reddy, of Sri Venkateswara University at Tirupati in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, spent four months in the village of Hvilsager--population 104--on Denmark's Jutland peninsula. His study, published in book form in English under the title "Danes are like that!" expresses dismay at the loneliness he found and the hope that India would not have to pay the same price for prosperity. "The most fundamental question that should bother every social scientist in the East is: Is there no way of achieving development without sacrificing the human values and the way of life cherished by homo sapiens?" he asked.... Reddy said he found a neat and tidy, cozy little society, stiff, rigid and seemingly full of practical, down-to-earth but 