Christian diet programs are books and other

name-brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

products promoting weight-loss diets and other diets that the authors believe are consistent with Christian rules and values. They may borrow elements from

Jewish dietary laws (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), from ...

, the Bible, modern nutrition science, or other sources. Christian diet and exercise programs became popular in the 1970s. They differ from historical, non-commercial Christian dietary traditions, such as not eating meat on Fridays. Annual revenues in excess of US$1 billion have been estimated for the US market. Christian diet books have been

bestseller A bestseller is a book or other media noted for its top selling status, with bestseller lists published by newspapers, magazines, and book store chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and specialties (novel, nonfiction book, cookb ...

s in the US religion market. Some have complex marketing programs, with spinoffs, in-person meetings, commercially produced

dietary supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement one's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or that are synthetic in order ...

s, and other ways to generate revenue.

Characteristics

Most Christian diet programs are calorie-reduction and exercise programs that have a veneer of Christian behavior over the surface. Exercise classes feature

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...

instead of

secular music Non-religious secular music and sacred music were the two main genres of Western music during the Middle Ages and Renaissance era. The oldest written examples of secular music are songs with Latin lyrics.Grout, 1996, p. 60 However, many secular s ...

. Group meetings begin and end in prayer, and books include Bible verses. Within that context, they can be further subdivided into two categories: * programs following some form of typical diet and exercise advice, with the addition of spiritual advice, such as to pray when tempted to eat too much food or to skip exercise, and * programs advocating for an idyllic ancient diet, reminiscent of the

Garden of Eden In Abrahamic religions, the Garden of Eden ( he, גַּן־עֵדֶן, ) or Garden of God (, and גַן־אֱלֹהִים ''gan-Elohim''), also called the Terrestrial Paradise, is the Bible, biblical paradise described in Book of Genesis, Genes ...

. Christian diet programs allow adherents to engage in a secular activity (weight loss) with a secular goal (becoming thin or attractive) while maintaining a distinctive religious cultural identity. This happens through a process of cooptation or

cultural appropriation Cultural appropriation is the inappropriate or unacknowledged adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from ...

of exercise and dieting from the secular culture. In style and substance, Christian diet programs influence and are influenced by the evangelical Christian community, secular views on weight loss, the medical and scientific community's approaches to health and fitness, and non-Christian fitness and dieting programs, including

yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

. For example, some Christian diet programs promote their medical and scientific content, and some secular diet programs have begun promoting weight loss as a spiritual act.

Blaming individuals

Early Christian diet programs emphasized the overweight person's

sin In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, s ...

and guilt. Over time, Christian programs changed their message away from guilt and

fat shaming Social stigma of obesity is broadly defined as bias or discriminatory behaviors targeted at overweight and obese individuals because of their weight. Such social stigmas can span one's entire life, as long as excess weight is present, starting ...

towards treating overeating as a type of

addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use o ...

or psychological problem. This shift mirrored the changes in secular diet and fitness books at the same time. Also like non-religious diet programs, the Christian diet authors associate being overweight with individual character flaws and a lack of

self-control Self-control, an aspect of inhibitory control, is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses. As an executive function, it is a cognitive process that is necessary for regulating one's b ...

, rather than systemic factors associated with poor diet, over-consumption of food, and a sedentary lifestyle. (Examples of systemic factors related to obesity include government policy decisions that make driving more common than biking or walking, or that

subsidize A subsidy or government incentive is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (business, or individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy. Although commonly extended from the government, the ter ...

the production of refined sugar and grains instead of fresh fruits and vegetables.) Secular weight-loss programs often ascribe overeating to the person feeling empty in some way, such as having an unfulfilling social or emotional life. The main difference between these programs and Christian weight-loss programs is that the person's emptiness is believed to be spiritual in nature.

Theology

Christian diet programs tend to be associated with

evangelicalism in the United States In the United States, evangelicalism is a movement among Protestant Christians who believe in the necessity of being born again, emphasize the importance of evangelism, and affirm traditional Protestant teachings on the authority as well as the ...

but with no particular

Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, worsh ...

. Many Christian diet programs are associated with the health and wealth gospel idea, and treat health as a primary end goal, rather than as

means Means may refer to: * Means LLC, an anti-capitalist media worker cooperative * Means (band), a Christian hardcore band from Regina, Saskatchewan * Means, Kentucky, a town in the US * Means (surname) * Means Johnston Jr. (1916–1989), US Navy adm ...

for living out Christian values. In this mindset, being healthy and thin, rather than Christian values such as

love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...

, becomes a "new measuring tape for godliness and spirituality". Some Christian diet programs are "alarmingly close to depicting a God who loves a size six woman more than a size 16". Most mainstream diet programs support hegemonic standards for external beauty. This is the idea that there is one best type of physical appearance, which is thin for women and muscular for men. Christian diet programs disclaim this, encourage the development of

inner beauty Beauty is commonly described as a feature of objects that makes these objects pleasurable to perceive. Such objects include landscapes, sunsets, humans and works of art. Beauty, together with art and taste, is the main subject of aesthetics, o ...

, and warn their adherents against

vanity Vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Prior to the 14th century it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant ''futility''. The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic s ...

and pursuing external beauty. They emphasize that adherents should undertake their diet and exercise programs with the correct motivations, which are for physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Christian diet programs promote the idea that the human body is a temple that must be kept holy. They have been criticized for then equating having a thin, physically beautiful body with being holy and righteous. A commonly cited Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, which Christian diet programs say means that it is sinful to be overweight. Critics interpret this differently, such as by saying that people should try to be healthy, or that people should honor God regardless of their appearance.

Programs

{, class="wikitable" , + List of Christian diet programs !Program !Brief description !Commercial products , - , ''The Maker's Diet'' by Jordan S. Rubin , 40-day temporary food plan based on whole, unprocessed foods, especially vegetables, fruits, and raw nuts, and

fasting Fasting is the abstention from eating and sometimes drinking. From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see " Breakfast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after ...

for half a day once a week. Rubin recommends avoiding the meat of

unclean animal In some religions, an unclean animal is an animal whose consumption or handling is taboo. According to these religions, persons who handle such animals may need to ritually purify themselves to get rid of their uncleanliness. Judaism In Jud ...

s. The tone of the books has been compared to an

infomercial An infomercial is a form of television commercial that resembles regular TV programming yet is intended to promote or sell a product, service or idea. It generally includes a toll-free telephone number or website. Most often used as a form of dire ...

. Rubin's two private companies, Garden of Life and Beyond Organic, have sold tens of millions of dollars worth of dietary supplements and other products. They have been the subject of FDA enforcement actions for making unsubstantiated claims. , Books, dietary supplements, soap,

dentifrice Dentifrices, including toothpowder and toothpaste, are agents used along with a toothbrush to clean and polish natural teeth. They are supplied in paste, powder, gel, or liquid form. Many dentifrices have been produced over the years, some focus ...

, - , ''What Would Jesus Eat?'' by Don Colbert , This book promotes the modern Mediterranean diet as being similar to what people in Israel during the first century, including the historical Jesus, would likely have eaten. , Book , - , Losing to Live by Steve Reynolds , A 12-week fitness and counseling program that promotes exercise and healthy foods. It uses one of the Ten Commandments,

Thou shalt have no other gods before me "Thou shalt have no other gods before on my face" ( he, לא יהיה־לך אלהים אחרים על־פני) is one, or part of one depending on the numbering tradition used, of the Ten Commandments found in the Hebrew Bible at and . Accordin ...

, to position overeating as a form of

idolatry Idolatry is the worship of a cult image or "idol" as though it were God. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, the Baháʼí Faith, and Islam) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the A ...

. The program is a weight-loss competition. The founder has also written several books, including one titled ''Bod4God''. , Weekly in-person meetings, books , - , Weigh Down Workshop by

Gwen Shamblin Gwen Shamblin Lara (February 18, 1955 – May 29, 2021) was an American author, founder of the Christian diet program ''The Weigh Down Workshop'' and founder of the Remnant Fellowship. She is the subject of the 2021 HBO Max docuseries, '' The W ...

, This program was most popular in the 1990s, when its popularity in the US was close to that of some secular weight-loss programs. It addressed weight loss in the context of

food addiction A food or eating addiction is any behavioral addiction that is primarily characterized by the compulsive consumption of palatable (e.g., high fat and high sugar) food items which markedly activate the reward system in humans and other animal ...

. In 2000, the founder disclaimed belief in the orthodox Christian views of the

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

, resulting in the loss of publishing contracts and accusations that she is a

cult In modern English, ''cult'' is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This ...

leader and a

heretic Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...

. , Books, in-person meetings, website, church , - , Prayer walk , This is a generic, rather than name-brand program. Participants walk while praying. This combines gentle physical exercise with praying in a particular place. , Books, DVDs, online groups, in-person groups , - , Praise Aerobics by Sheri Chambers , An example of exercise programs, this aerobics video program sold 50,000 copies in 1996, equal to a gold record for music videos.{{Cite book, last=Griffith, first=R. Marie, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dGtHZImY4lcC, title=Born Again Bodies: Flesh and Spirit in American Christianity, publisher=University of California Press, year=2004, isbn=978-0-520-93811-3, location=Berkeley, pages=178, 207, 224, language=en, oclc=56727227 , VHS tape , - , ''Free to Be Thin'' by Neva Coyle and Marie Chapian , This 13-week program is one of the more popular. It opposes fad diets, junk food, and artificial diet foods. Later, after Coyle regained the weight she had once lost, she promoted exercise and other healthful habits for obese women, without weight loss as a goal. , Books , - , ''Pray Your Weight Away'' by Charles Shedd , One of the first modern weight loss books marketed as a Christian approach to dieting, this was published in 1957. Shedd later published two more blunt-spoken,

fat-shaming Social stigma of obesity is broadly defined as bias or discriminatory behaviors targeted at overweight and obese individuals because of their weight. Such social stigmas can span one's entire life, as long as excess weight is present, starting ...

, best-selling books about overeating as evidence of spiritual and personal failures. , Books , - , Body and Soul Aerobics , This in-person exercise class is promoted to churches as way of recruiting new church members. , , - , ''Hallelujah Diet'' by George Malkmus , This diet is largely raw foodism, which Malkmus claims was the diet in the Garden of Eden. Malkmus also objects to modern medical interventions, such as surgery. , Books, dietary supplements, household products , - , ''3D Plan'' by Carol Showalter , This diet program is named after three areas of emphasis: individual

discipline Discipline refers to rule following behavior, to regulate, order, control and authority. It may also refer to punishment. Discipline is used to create habits, routines, and automatic mechanisms such as blind obedience. It may be inflicted on ot ...

, diet, and

discipleship In Christianity, disciple primarily refers to a dedicated follower of Jesus. This term is found in the New Testament only in the Gospels and Acts. In the ancient world, a disciple is a follower or adherent of a teacher. Discipleship is not the ...

. This program promotes medical and scientific advice about the health benefits of having a normal

body mass index Body mass index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is expressed in units of kg/m2, resulting from mass in kilograms and he ...

(BMI). , Books , - , WholyFit , Framed as a Bible study about health and fitness. , Exercise classes and videos , - , First Place 4 Health , Framed as a Bible study about health and fitness. , Books, in-person meetings, household products, online groups , - , ''The Daniel Plan'' by Rick Warren,

Daniel Amen Daniel Gregory Amen (born July 1954) is an American celebrity doctor who practices as a psychiatrist and brain disorder specialist as director of the Amen Clinics. He is a five-time ''New York Times'' best-selling author as of 2012. Amen has b ...

, and Mark Hyman , 40-day plan based on the story of Daniel eating vegetables and water instead of meat and wine. , Books, videos, in-person meetings, online group

References

Weight loss Diets Evangelicalism in the United States

Characteristics

Blaming individuals

Theology

Programs

See also

References