I weighed about 300 pounds or more back then. I was a food addict, as Dr. Brown pointed out. If I had continued eating the way I was, I wouldn’t be alive today. My cholesterol was 240, blood pressure was 149 over 103, and I had sleep apnea, which required me to use a machine. At 59, I decided I couldn’t continue living that way.
Life Now
After making what seemed like “radical” changes, I can truthfully say I’m thriving. I’m full of life, and it’s amazing. After addressing my health, I’ve not only lost weight, but I also haven’t had a headache for 9 and a half years, and my lower back pain is gone. My blood pressure is now 100 over 65, my cholesterol is around 135, and I no longer need a breathing machine to sleep.
While I understand that this is not the case for everyone, for me, health is ultimately about stewardship. I believe I have a mission from God, and I want to be able to serve, give, and run until it’s time for me to go home. The same should be true for every believer.
What Scripture Says About Our Bodies
What does 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, which addresses sexual immorality, have to do with how we eat? While it speaks about purity, the verse concludes with the important words, “You were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.” These words are just as true when it comes to our health.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul speaks of discipline in all things, comparing our Christian walk to an athlete’s strict training. Athletes deny themselves to be in optimal health for an earthly crown, but we should strive for spiritual discipline, aiming for a heavenly crown.
Eight Things We Need to Break:
1. Overeating is sin – Understand that overeating is the sin of gluttony and goes against God’s design for us.
2. Fat does not define you – Your value is in Christ, not in your body size.
3. You are an overcomer in Christ – Jesus is greater than any struggle you face, including food addiction.
4. Grace empowers you to live above sin – With God’s grace, you can overcome temptation and live healthfully.
5. Freedom through obedience is a choice – Obeying God leads to freedom, even in matters of health.
6. Spiritual warfare over food is real – Struggles with food may be part of a deeper spiritual battle.
7. With God, all things are possible – Through God’s strength, you can overcome any obstacle, including addiction.
8. Healthy eating is cooperation with the Lord – Choosing to eat healthily is an act of obedience and stewardship.
Ten Key Points for Health Transformation:
1. Don’t diet—get a lifestyle change – Sustainable health comes from permanent lifestyle changes, not temporary diets.
2. Don’t cut back, cut bad foods out entirely – Remove harmful foods instead of just reducing their intake.
3. Recognise food addiction is real and deadly – Understand that addiction to food can harm your body and soul.
4. Learn the difference between toxic hunger and true hunger – Know when your body is truly hungry versus when you are just craving comfort.
5. Don’t snack between meals – Develop discipline by eating only during meals.
6. Recognize unhealthy eating is sin to you – Acknowledge that unhealthy eating habits can be spiritually harmful.
7. Identify the main psychological reasons you eat – Address the emotional triggers behind overeating.
8. Understand food is the fuel of your life, not the reward for your life – View food as nourishment, not a reward for accomplishments.
9. Exercise is not a substitute for healthy eating – Healthy eating is foundational, and exercise supports it, but it cannot replace it.
10. Resolve to change today; tomorrow never comes – Make the decision to change now, because procrastination leads to more harm.
Conclusion
As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of the bodies God has entrusted to us. Our health is not just about us—it’s about fulfilling the purpose God has for us in this life. By practicing discipline in eating, we honor God by caring for our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The journey to health is not just physical but deeply spiritual, as we align our choices with God’s will, trusting that with Him, we can overcome any challenge, including food addiction. Ultimately, healthy living is an act of worship, demonstrating our gratitude for the life and strength He provides.
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*** Article by Vladimir Savchuk Ministries: Interview with Dr Michael Brown / Photo by Cottonbro at Pexels
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