Research demonstrates that the typical Protestant pastor is

overweight, with poor eating and sleeping habits and high stress

(Original release date:  August 1, 2003)  In the biblical book of I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul uses the athletic imagery of running a race to get his point across to readers.  New research among America’s clergy suggests it’s a good thing it’s only imagery Paul is using – if they were required to run an actual foot race, it’s doubtful some of them would finish.

Research conducted among a representative sample of 568 senior pastors of Protestant churches shows that the typical pastor is not in terribly good shape physically – they average under seven hours of sleep a night, are on average more than 30 pounds overweight, and often suffer from stress, skipped meals, unhealthy foods, and sleeping problems.

The research was conducted by Grey Matter Research (formerly Ellison Research) of Phoenix, Arizona.

In the study, 71% of all ministers admitted to being overweight, by an average of 32.1 pounds.  One-third of all ministers were overweight by at least 25 pounds, including 15% who were overweight by 50 pounds or more, which can be a dangerous health condition.

Weight problems probably should not be a surprise, given the eating habits of pastors.  Two-thirds of all pastors skip a meal at least one day a week, including 39% who skip meals three or more days a week.

When they are eating, they’re often not eating the right things.  Eighty-three percent said at least once a week they eat foods they know they shouldn’t because they’re unhealthy, including 41% who do this three or more days a week.  And the vast majority (88%) eat fast food at least one day a week, including one-third who eat fast food three or more days a week.

Not only do these eating habits suggest weight troubles, but they suggest digestive troubles, as well.  Four out of ten ministers (39%) reported digestive problems at least once a week.  For 14%, their digestive problems are chronic, occurring at least three days a week.

Pastors also often are not getting exercise.  Only half said they get the recommended minimum, which is 30 minutes of exercise at least three days a week.  Twenty-eight percent said they don’t typically get any exercise at all.

There are other problems, as well.  Almost nine out of ten ministers (87%) said they get less sleep than they need at least once a week, and almost half (47%) are getting less sleep than they need three or more days a week.

More than half have trouble sleeping at least once a week (46%), and one out of five have trouble sleeping three or more nights every week.

The sleep deprivation is real, and not just their perception.  The average minister gets 6.8 hours of sleep per night.  Just 16% regularly get the recommendation of eight hours or more per night.  On the other hand, 37% get fewer than seven hours of sleep each night.

With all of these unhealthy life patterns and health complaints, it’s probably surprising that not more ministers complained of physical problems or symptoms related to stress.  Fifty-two percent experience physical symptoms of stress at least once a week, and nearly one out of four (23%) are subjected to this three or more times a week.

Ron Sellers, president of Grey Matter Research, noted that the youngest ministers are the ones with the least healthy lifestyle.  “The youngest ministers are the heaviest, the most likely to skip meals, the most likely to eat unhealthy foods, the least likely to get exercise, the most likely to go without sufficient sleep, the least likely to take vitamins, the most likely to eat fast food, and the most likely to report problems sleeping,” Sellers noted.  “It might be argued that these are eager young ministers out trying to change the world, or at least to build their careers.  But it’s tragic that they apparently are sacrificing their own health for these purposes,” he continued.

Study Details

The study was conducted by Grey Matter Research (formerly Ellison Research), a marketing research company located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Although Grey Matter Research has numerous clients, this study was funded and conducted independently by the company.  The sample of 568 Protestant ministers included only those who are actively leading churches.  The study’s total sample is accurate to within ±4.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level with a 50% response distribution.  

The study was conducted in all 50 states, using a representative sample of pastors from all Protestant denominations.  Respondents’ geography, church size, and denomination were carefully tracked to ensure appropriate representation and accuracy.

“A man too busy to take care of his health is like

a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.”

Spanish proverb

A PASSION FOR

RESEARCH THAT

MAKES A DIFFERENCE

How many days in a typical week do pastors experience the following…

Sleep habits of pastors…

Pastors’ weight issues…