This document summarizes research from the Adventist Health Studies examining the relationship between lifestyle, diet, and disease risk factors like obesity. It finds that among Seventh-day Adventists, who emphasize healthy living, vegetarian diets are associated with lower rates of hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome compared to non-vegetarian diets. Studies also show that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, rather than weight gain, is associated with greater longevity. The document concludes that as a faith community, Adventists can help address obesity by continuing to promote healthy lifestyles and plant-based diets to future generations.

1. Beacons of Hope for
the Burdens of Obesity
Adventist Health Studies

2. OBESITY
– a global problem

4. Prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30) in the US 2009-10. NHANES.

5. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

6. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

7. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1990, 2000, 2010
(*BMI ≥30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)
1990 2000
2010
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

8. Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) have a
long tradition of focus on healthy lifestyle
to reduce risk of disease.

9. 8 “keys” to healthy living:
•Nutrition – focus on vegetarian diet
•Exercise
•Water – inside and outside
•Smoking – non-smoking
•Temperance
•Air – fresh air
•Relaxation – adequate sleep
•Trust in God

10. • Is faith in itself associated with lower
risk of chronic disease?
• Is faith a vehicle or driving force for
reducing risk factor levels?

11. Do we as Christian believers have a
responsibility to promote a healthy
lifestyle to prevent development of
NCDs, including obesity?

12. Overview –
of studies that can possibly address
this

13. Adventist Health Studies
USA, 1958-2012 BRHS
2006-
11,000
AMS 1958-1985
1958 1966 1974
23,000 SDA
1988 2001 2002-
AHS-2 2011
96,000 SDA
25+ years 5,700 30+ years
California overlap USA & Canada
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
AHSMOG 1977-2002 AHSMOG-2
6,328 SDA 2002-
25+ years 96,000 SDA
12,000 California 30+ years
overlap AHS-1 1974-1988
USA & Canada
34,192 SDA
25+ years
California

14. Studying Seventh-day Adventists
STRENGTHS –
• homogeneous in many lifestyle choices
• heterogeneous in nutritional habits - wide range from
strict vegetarian to regular American diet.
• Very low smoking and alcohol use: can study effect of
lifestyle without the confounding or modifying effects of
these.
.

15. AHS-2
4,059
4,059
13,539
6,578
7,638 8,219
10,472
19,790
18,927
6,531

16. Body weight &
longevity
How thin is healthy?

17. Survival by BMI
categories –
All Adventist men

18. Survival by BMI –
All men with stable
weight
throughout life

19. Survival by BMI –
All women

20. Survival by BMI
–
All women with
stable weight

21. Survival by
BMI –
stable
versus gain
All men

22. Survival by
BMI
Stable or Gain
All women

23. AHS-2
Dietary patterns and their relationship to diseases
associated with obesity

32. Diet & Blood Pressure
in Whites

33. Odds of Hypertension according to
baseline BMI.
OR
5
4.64
4
(2.66-8.11)
3
2
1 1.53
1 (0.92-2.53)
0
<25 25-29.9 30+
BMI

34. Odds of Hypertension according to
baseline BMI.
OR
5
4.64
4
(2.66-8.11)
3
2
1 1.53
1 (0.92-2.53)
0
<25 25-29.9 30+
BMI

35. Odds of Hypertension according to
dietary patterns.
OR
1.4
1.22
1.2
1
1
0.86
0.8 1
0.92
0.6 0.52
0.4 0.57 0.35
0.2
0
Non-veg Semi-veg LOV Vegan Non-veg Semi-veg LOV Vegan
Dietary Pattern

36. Diet & Risk of Diabetes

39. Diet & the Metabolic
Syndrome

41. Odds of Metabolic Syndrome
according to dietary patterns.
OR
1
1
0.8 (2.66-8.11)
0.6
0.4 0.44
(0.30-0.64)
0.2
0
Non-veg Vegetarian
Dietary Pattern

42. Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome
according to dietary patterns.
OR
40
39.7
37.6
30 25.2
20
10
0
Non-veg Semi-veg Vegetarian
Dietary Pattern

43. Can we as a faith
community do something
about this development?

44. YES,
•Use faith as a motivator
and driver
•Responsibility for future
generations