Forgiveness by God, religious commitment, and waist/hip ratios

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to see if a person's level of commitment to religion moderates the relationship between forgiveness by God and waist/hip ratios. The data come from a nationwide probability survey of adults of all ages (N = 2,453). Interviewers measured respondents' waist and hip circumference. Questions were administered to assess how often people feel they have been forgiven by God and how deeply they are committed to their faith. Controls were established for several different aspects of religion (i.e., church attendance, private prayer, and religious affiliation) as well as select demographic characteristics (i.e., age, sex, education, race, residential location, and marital status). Forgiveness by God is associated with less favorable waist/hip ratios, but only among study participants who are less committed to their faith. A set of supplementary analyses were performed using the frequency of moderate exercise as an outcome. The findings suggest that forgiveness by God is associated with less frequent exercise, but only among study participants who are less committed to their faith. The findings add greater credence to the literature on the relationship between religion and health because they are based on biological measures.