People Who Exercise Are Less Likely To Pray

Carl Lowe | Apr 01, 2013 | Comments 3 | 

Can praying for better health make you healthier? Nobody knows. But more Americans are praying for better health today than ever before, according to researchers. Exercisers, not so much.

Researchers analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1999, 2002 and 2007 National Health Interview Survey found that prayer about health issues increased in all groups of Americans, from 43 percent in 2002 to 49 percent in 2007.

The study showed that people with more money are 15 percent less likely to pray than those with the lowest incomes. People who exercise regularly are 25 percent less likely to pray those who didn’t exercise.

Women, African-Americans and the well-educated are most likely to pray about their health. The most recent numbers show that 56 percent of women pray for better health compared to only 40 percent of men.