Religious Habit Boosts Physical Health, New Study Shows

A new study from Brigham Young University’s Wheatley Institute looks at how regular church attendance affects body health. The research is part of a three‑part series that also covers mental and social benefits of religion. Researchers sifted through about 60, 000 papers on faith and health. They kept only the top five percent—roughly 2, 800 studies—because those had the strongest evidence. Anything neutral was left out. The review found a 7‑to‑1 ratio of studies showing positive links between regular religious participation and physical well‑being. The strongest evidence was for people who don’t smoke. Ninety studies reported that churchgoers were less likely to smoke, while only one found the opposite.

Other strong findings included a 43‑to‑1 ratio for preventing drug abuse, and a 4‑to‑1 ratio for better diet habits. Even exercise showed a 6‑to‑1 positive relationship with frequent church attendance. The researchers stress that simply watching services on TV or scrolling through religious posts does not count. Benefits appear only when someone attends worship at least once a week over a long period. These results suggest that faith communities and universities could work together. By combining academic rigor with real‑world religious engagement, both sides might learn more about how to promote health.

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