BY ROB CORDDRY
LOMA LINDA—Adventist Vegetarianism is far and away the best method for overweight and obese people to find security, happiness, and acceptance of their body image, a new study finds.
The study, commissioned by the New York Times, randomly divided over 1000 overweight and obese Americans between several methods designed to improve self-esteem and body image perception among their demographic. The goal of each method was to make the improvements without requiring any physical changes to the subject's body. The methods included Clothing Makeovers, Environment Modification, Friends Modification, Perception Counseling, and Adventist Vegetarianism.
Researchers measured the difference in the self-esteem and self-satisfaction of the subjects after a yearlong exposure to the methods. Adventist Vegetarianism returned the highest boost to self-image, with over 92% of participants reporting that they became totally comfortable and even proud of their bodies at the end.
"This is really exciting," said Dr. Helen Cooper, the director of the research lab in charge of the study. "Most of the methods contain some form of encouragement and positive affirmation, which makes a difference, but only Adventist Vegetarianism adds an element of moral superiority to the mix. We found that the adoption of an air of moral superiority adds far more to a person's positive self-image than mere encouragement."
Barry Lightson is one of Adventist Vegetarianism's success stories. Weighing 375 pounds, he had all but given up on ways to make himself feel good until he was recruited for the study. Now, he knows that he is better than everyone else.
"I can eat as much carbs, sugar, saturated fats, and sodium as I want, and gain as much weight as I want, and so long as it's all vegetarian, I know that I'm more sanctified than that marathon-running, meat-eating heathen, who is going to hell," said Lightson. "God loves me more because I don't eat meat. That's such a powerful promise."
Many others in the study echo Lightson's sentiments. Tammy Bulger had already tried adjusting her wardrobe, surrounding herself with “Curves are Beautiful” paraphernalia, and changing friends to be only those whose weight equaled or topped hers. But the breakthrough came when she was invited to participate in the study.
"Adventist Vegetarianism gives me a means to satisfy all my unhealthy cravings, while reassuring me that I will make it through the time of tribulation instead of fish-eaters and the like," said Tammy Bulger, who weighs 315.
Bulger also praises the abundance of role-models in Adventism.
"It's so exciting to see a community where so many overweight people are comfortable, happy, and revered in top organizational positions, like Conference President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and all the rest"
Most of those studied reported little trouble switching to a Vegetarian diet. They reported that substitute meats were usually tastier, plumper, and more seasoned than the real thing, and that heaping cheese on top made any vegetable dish more palatable.
“Halfway through they introduced us to a Caucasian Adventist Church Potluck,” said Bulger. “The cheese-topped green beans were to die for, the cheese-topped veggie meatloaf was sheer heaven, and oh my word, the dessert table! Those poor, damned carnivores.”
Dr. Cooper says that she's thrilled with the results of the Adventist Vegetarian group. "Whereas before they viewed themselves as the ridiculed of society, after giving up meat and entering the Adventist community, they view themselves as the superiors and critics. What a powerful, incongruently surprising shift of perception."
