What is the Connection between Religion and Dieting?

The maintenance of weight to obtain health and fitness is today a trillion dollar industry worldwide. According the Media Awareness Network, "It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth $100 billion a year." The greater problem in the people of developed world is not malnutrition but obesity, which is affecting not only their health but also their personality. Who wish to be fat? People are willing to do anything even undergoing ‘bariatric surgery’ involving risk of life to reduce weight and look smart.

We know quite well that the ideal weight of healthy body means neither being underweight, nor being overweight, but maintain a weight somewhere between of the two extremes as shown in the Figure. 

Have you ever thought this stupidly of man to spend money first to buy food and then spend money on reducing weight, which can be done free of cost.

The main reason for obesity is consumption of high calorie diet, overeating and lack of physical activity. You can, therefore, reduce your weigh simply by:-

•  Reducing  the consumption of high calorie/junk food,
•   Reducing quantity of your food intake
•  Doing more physical work

We can do all three above without spending a single penny, if we have control of mind to avoid instant pleasure of high-calorie food and develop a healthy lifestyle. The high calorie/junk food is always costlier than the low calorie simple food and hence it would save money to eat simpler food. When you eat less, again you save money. Finally, the activities of walking, jogging, exercising, yoga, meditation or doing your job is completely free and cost you nothing.

Yet most people can’t reduce the weight voluntarily but would do so only when advised by a dietician or fitness expert—after paying them their heard earned money. Yet the reality is before our eyes. Most people fail to maintain the right weight even when they spend lots of money on dieting and torture their body, mind and soul.

Now come to think of religion, which has become a matter of great controversy in the present world. The rationalist and intellectual people think that religious people are fanatic and it is stupid to believe n God and be religious. They often claim that religion is the opium of masses because it intoxicates people and keep them poor.

Let us imagine a world without religion—a world of atheists and rationalists.

What would be the purpose of life in such people?

In absence of any spiritual purpose of life, people tend to become materialistic and live to make more money, enjoy more pleasures and/or to become more powerful. However, this is a mindless chase because there is no limit to either of the three. According to Forbes list of 2014, the ranks of the world’s billionaires have swelled to a record 1,645 including 268 newcomers—with an aggregate net worth of $6.4 trillion, up from $5.4 trillion a year ago. Yet these rich people are not happy since they still have small wealth as compared to Bill Gates whose wealth surpasses $75 Billion. Who is more powerful than the President of United States of America, but still, he can’t get his way through and prevent an American citizen being killed by ISIS. He would surely like to have more power. There is also no end of pleasure seeking as the more you satisfy your senses, they more desire is born in your heart.

Have you ever thought--

• Why do you need so much money, when you can manage with much lesser money?
• Why do you need so much power, when power always gives you greater responsibility and invite hatred from people against whom you use power?
• Why do you run after pleasure, which can never be satisfied?

Most people are unhappy because of the lack of the fulfillment of these three desires. Hence, people are slogging day and night to fulfill these desires, till their last day of life. People don’t ask the question as to why they need so much. It is mad rush of material goals which has become the purpose of life for civilized and rationalist people. They have to win the race by becoming rich, powerful and get more pleasure in life.

However, just like the food, without which we can’t even survive, become harmful, when consumed in excess, the mindless fulfillment of these material desires harm the mind, body and soul of the person. It is impossible for everyone to become the richest, most powerful and also have the ability to enjoy pleasures of life. When you get one, you often lose other. Hence, it is impossible to achieve happiness by following material pursuits.

The mindless chase of materialism is checked by religion, whose tenets are just the opposite. Instead of worshiping wealth, power and pleasure, all religions teach people to shun them as Jesus said—‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’. When the world teaches us that might is right, Jesus advices people to be meek—‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth’. He said emphatically —‘"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money’.

All religions provide a simple way to live life. You can see the same truth in Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Instead of earning, religions ask people to give. Instead of acquiring power, religions ask people to serve.

Religions, thus, provides hope to people who are not winners. Since there are always more losers than winners, religions shall be needed by the society. Yet religion alone can’t bring happiness, because you have to earn before you can give. You have to engage with the world to earn reasonable wealth to make your living. A man with blind faith without reason is similar to an underweight person. A fanatic is as unhappy as an atheist as shown in Figure below.

Hence, we must understand that the need of religion has arisen due to the values of our civilization which has created differentiation between people and engaged them in the mad race of worldly pursuits. The true happiness lies in the balance of your rational and spiritual mind just like your good health is the result of balancing the body weight between the two extremes—which is scientific fact.   

No wonder dieting is part of every religion—‘believers’ call it fasting.