The short answer to this question is a resounding: Of course! Now, for the slightly longer answer …

The relationship between religion and health has been researched frequently over the past 40 years, with most studies finding that religious people tend to live longer and experience better general health. Yet, despite these generally positive associations between religion and health, numerous studies have suggested that those who are more religious may be more likely to be obese.

Our recent study of a large, demographically and geographically diverse population sample confirmed this association; we found that more frequent prayer, more frequent service attendance, and greater spirituality were each associated with a greater likelihood of obesity. Furthermore, these associations remained significant even after adjustment for demographics. In other words, our findings suggest that if we were to blindly choose two people—one religious and one not—who were otherwise identical in terms of race, sex, age, education, and income, the religious person would be more likely to be obese.

The next logical question is: Why are religious people more likely to be obese? First, it is important to note that our study design precludes us from inferring causality; accordingly, when we say religious people are more likely to be obese, we do not mean that religion actually causes obesity. It is entirely possible that the association we have found between religion and obesity exists partly because obese people may, in fact, be more likely to become religious.

Perhaps the most likely explanation for the association between religion and obesity is that religious organizations tend to place little emphasis on avoidance of gluttony or overeating, while instead emphasizing avoidance of more clearly defined practices like smoking. In fact, fellowship around festive meals is common in religious communities and may be viewed by pious individuals as a well-deserved treat for all the time and energy they devote to religious activities. Unfortunately, we’re often hurting ourselves more than we are treating ourselves at these meals, which tend to center around fatty and calorie-dense meats, cheeses, starches, and baked goods.

Yet, even if religious people are more likely to be obese, we know that religious people still tend to live longer and have better general health than nonreligious people do. Given this, should the religious community even care if it is more obese? My answer, without question, is yes. The adverse health effects of obesity are many, including fatal cardiovascular and metabolic disease and nonfatal but disabling respiratory and musculoskeletal problems. Accordingly, if we can do a better job of preventing, recognizing, and treating obesity in the religious community, we are likely to see religious people lead even longer, healthier lives.

Matthew Feinstein is a medical student at Northwestern University.