Weight Loss

Statistics from the National Institutes of Health indicate that more than half of U.S. adults are overweight (including the obese) and that 25% of U.S. adults qualify as being obese.

Among U.S. adults aged 20-74 years, obesity has nearly doubled from approximately 15 percent of that population in 1980 to an estimated 27 percent in 1999.

The highest increase of obesity has occurred among the age group of 18 to 29, people with some college education, and people of Hispanic ethnicity.

There is also an alarming prevalence in weight gain in American children. The CDC reports that there are almost twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight adolescents as there were in 1980.

The southern region of the U.S. has seen the largest change in obesity statistics as compared with other regions; there has been a 67% increase in the number of obese people residing there.

A recent study estimated annual medical spending due to overweight and obesity to be as much as $92.6 billion in 2002 dollars.

Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for:

diabetes

heart disease

stroke

hypertension

gallbladder disease

osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints)

sleep apnea and other breathing problems

some forms of cancer (uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder)

Obesity is also associated with:

high blood cholesterol

complications of pregnancy

menstrual irregularities

hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)

stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic-floor muscles)

psychological disorders such as depression

increased surgical risk

The alarming increase in overweight and obesity disorders is increasingly causing concern in health care professionals … it is paralleled by the concern of soul care shepherds … pastors.

The Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) is full of Faith Athletes who over achieved and accomplished what no one but they believed possible.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, KJV

Worldliness

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. KJV

Luke 8:14 The seed among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God’s words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.  TLB

Let me get my life in order … once I am financially secure I will have time for God.

The magical tomorrow of more time and leisure, never comes.

Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. KJV

We’ve got time … LIE

Rom 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. KJV

The grime of life, time for a freshening up.

2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. KJV

Col 3:8?13 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. KJV

I am not what I used to be; don’t fall back into those ruts.

Eph 4:22?24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. KJV

Contentment C 1 Tim 6:6?11

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.