Revisiting Religion and BMI: Recent Evidence from Australia.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Understanding the relationship between religious affiliation and health outcomes like body mass index (BMI) is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding religion's influence on BMI, necessitating further investigation in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between religious affiliation and body mass index (BMI) in a representative Australian adult population.
• To determine if religious affiliation predicts BMI after controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from five waves of the Household Income Labour Dynamics Australia (HILDA) Survey.
• Analyzed responses from 58,694 adults aged 18+ using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis.
• Controlled for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and psychological variables.

Main Results:

• Religious affiliation significantly influences BMI in both men and women.
• Men identifying as Catholic, Anglican, or mainline Protestant denominations had higher average BMIs than non-religious individuals.
• Women affiliated with mainline or conservative Protestant denominations also showed higher average BMIs; non-Christians generally had lower BMIs than non-religious individuals.
• Frequency of religious attendance and perceived importance of religion had minimal impact on BMI.

Conclusions:

• Religious affiliation is a significant predictor of body mass index (BMI) in Australia.
• Specific Christian denominations are associated with higher BMIs, whereas non-Christian affiliations are linked to lower BMIs, independent of other factors.
• The impact of religion on BMI appears to be tied to affiliation rather than religious practice or perceived importance.