Project Title
Does Being a Protestant Affect BMI?
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Brooke Conaway
Abstract
According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 46.6% of Americans identify as Protestant, which is defined as regular attendance at a Protestant church and routine private devotion. Most Protestants in the United States live in the Southeast, the region where obesity is most prevalent in the country. Perhaps because of the importance of community gatherings centered around calorie-dense meals in Protestant communities, there may be a relationship between obesity and Protestantism. To test this theory, I used Add Health survey data to estimate whether being a practicing Protestant impacts BMI. Controlling for other relevant factors, such as income, education, and biological sex, I found that being any kind of Protestant is associated with a person being higher in a given BMI category in comparison to atheists and other religious groups. With these results, it appears that the Protestant community needs to evaluate its views and practices on personal health and begin taking active steps to encourage healthier lifestyles for its members.
Does Being a Protestant Affect BMI?
According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 46.6% of Americans identify as Protestant, which is defined as regular attendance at a Protestant church and routine private devotion. Most Protestants in the United States live in the Southeast, the region where obesity is most prevalent in the country. Perhaps because of the importance of community gatherings centered around calorie-dense meals in Protestant communities, there may be a relationship between obesity and Protestantism. To test this theory, I used Add Health survey data to estimate whether being a practicing Protestant impacts BMI. Controlling for other relevant factors, such as income, education, and biological sex, I found that being any kind of Protestant is associated with a person being higher in a given BMI category in comparison to atheists and other religious groups. With these results, it appears that the Protestant community needs to evaluate its views and practices on personal health and begin taking active steps to encourage healthier lifestyles for its members.