What is the morality of staying fit? Is it morally wrong to allow yourself to become obese?

Question

Barring a serious medical condition that causes weight gain.

perhaps I should clarify that this is an academic question-- I personally play college baseball and am in very good shape.

Answer 1

If we do things to other people that cause them to become at increased risk for all sorts of negative medical conditions, then we could legitimately be accused of doing harm to them.

The same goes for our own selves and our own bodies.

I don't think we have to be total health nuts or anything. I don't think we all have to be slim track-star types.

But I do thing we have a moral obligation to take decent care of ourselves. That includes a reasonably healthy diet as well as a reasonable amount of exercise -- to the best of our ability anyway.

In doing so, we become less likely to get sick -- meaning that we are less likely to put others in a position where they have to take care of us.

Also, it means that we have more time -- not to mention more energy -- to "be there" for other people and to be a Christ-like presence for them. This is harder to do when we're out of shape, always running out of energy, and always getting sick.

Answer 2

Depends why they are obese. Let's say they have no pre-existing condition, but just self-indulge all the time. Then it is probably "morally" wrong. But there is also likely a self-esteem issue going on, or an issue of character.

Also, if parents feed their kids crap and make them fat, it's not the person's fault. But that person needs to take steps to regain and improve their health at some point - that's their responsibility, no matter who's "fault" their obesity is. Whether it's a "moral" responsibility, I don't know.

Answer 3

I think maintaining a healthy body weight is not really a question of morality, but more a question of self-esteem and self-worth. Coming from a person who used to be very overweight, I know that when someone allows themselves to become obese it's more of an apathy towards the self and could even be as serious as a self-loathing.

Answer 4

Using the dictionaries definition of 'morally' which is of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior I would say yes. Simply because if someone is lazy in one area they are often lazy in another area. Not to mention obesity effects more than the obese person. What about businesses that have to make bigger seats, which means raising costs? Or what about the fact that most obese persons don't eat healthy food which means they are probably making junk food makers rich. What about the fact an obese person requires larger clothes which means more clothe to make the clothes. There are so many waste related aspects to obesity. Not to mention the mental health aspects.

Answer 5

I don't think morality is even relevent. People feel better if they're not obese, so all prudent people should try to stay fit. But if they don't, they're not hurting anyone but themselves. There's no morality involved, unless you believe God has expectations for your physical fitness. No one has the definitive answer for that.

If someone is obese, I think they're doing themselves enough damage without having to worry about what God thinks. People should just try to stay fit. They should exercise a lot, limit calorie intake, drink lots of water, and not worry about lifting weights unless they want defined muscles. And then they'll be happier and feel better physically. And that's really all there is to it.

Answer 6

you're SO top, and your mom in regulation needs to end being so naive. She is placing your niece as a lot as change right into a statistic. before each and everything her having 2 boyfriends is a visit yet searching the condom confirms that she is doing better than having a nap over, and the perfect time I checked sleep-overs were no longer for mixed business enterprise. in case your mom-in-regulation will no longer interfere the least you should do is get your niece on birth control, no longer because you agree including her movements yet because it type of sounds like you and your husband will be paying the bill for her blunders.

Answer 7

What has morals got to do with being obese? Do you equate it with having loose personal values? Do you think they lie and cheat and fornicate too while slender people never do ? In other words a resounding NO,I don't think its morally wrong. I know several people at my gym that are heavy and they are just as moral as me and I'm of normal weight. Stop judging peoples lives by your narrow yardstick.

Answer 8

it isn't morally wrong i don't think, but you are supposed to treat your body like a temple.. when you are healthy, you have more self-confidence and less depression. also your brain functions much better because your nerves have a direct line to your brain when you are fit. people aren't supposed to carry all of that extra wieght. it is a strain on their muscles and back. think about if you ate whatever you wanted for a long time, and never worked out or ate healthy. your brain wouldn't work corectly allowing you to do poorly in school or work, then because you are doing poorly you feel like a failure or you are depressed and could possibly become suicidal. if you aren't depressed by then... a great sense of humore has to keep you going because your self-image is totally messed up because the junk-food added layers of carbs to your diet and fat on your body. overall, if you are healthy, you have a better lifestyle.

Answer 9

Thats a good one. At Luke 21:34 it speaks of overeating as being a bad thing. But it was refering to having an excess of anything as being bad. Like have too much alcohol or even having too much water can be bad for you too. Anything that is bad for your body is a bad thing. In a way, i think it can be morally wrong.

Answer 10

If you stay fit you'll live longer and have more opportunities to do good. Also, some people believe the body is a temple.