Does Jesus make you healthy?

For years, I've heard the theory that being religious makes you a healthier individual. I think I may have even referred to this in a sermon or two. That's because studies were released by this and that organization, saying that people who go to church/temple/mosque (etc.) are by-and-large healthier than people who don't.

Well, that's now come under some question.

According to this article from Reuters, "Being religious may not make you healthier after all."

"The study, published in the journal Circulation, suggests that when it comes to heart disease and clogged arteries, attending religious services or having spiritual experiences may not protect against heart attacks and strokes."

The article notes that people who are religious tend not to smoke because most religions frown on tobacco use. However, that health benefit is lost because religious people are more likely to be fat. If you doubt that, look around your church this weekend.

"We're not sure whether it is that religious people are more likely to gain weight through activities they pursue, or maybe heavier people seek out religion as a result of stigmatization," said Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, of the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, who led the study.