Column: Spiritual Psychology:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple…” says 1 Corinthians in the New Testament.

That’s a great piece of information. But do we really need holy scriptures to remind us that the body is our main currency for navigating the day to day world of our limited clock time called lifetime—and that disrespect or neglect of the body will have many long range adverse consequences. It’s ironic that surveys show that most people rate health (the body temple) number one in order of importance in life: “What’s the use of wealth if you don’t have health, and a host of similar comments.

Yet statistics tell us that worship of the body temple is deteriorating. The edifice is in terrible shape for a large segment of society, with signs of getting worse. We have growing epidemics of poor health that can be traced to self destructive choices and lifestyles that in many cases can be corrected by making better choices as individuals and as a society.
Obesity is one of the dangerous epidemics that is sweeping America—and spreading to other parts of the world, as societies with growing affluence play copycat with our junk food diets filled with “empty” calories, bad fats, and other ingredients that assault health.

Most disturbing is the health status of our nation’s children. Obesity is not only growing in leaps and bounds among adults, it is rampant among our children and youth as well. You don’t have to be psychic to forecast that the epidemic of childhood obesity will feed the epidemic of type 2 diabetes (used to be called adult onset diabetes but is now occurring earlier) with all the dreary health consequences, often requiring lifelong treatments. This alarming situation screams out the need for prevention. Who would disagree?

But look at our national healthcare expenditures and you will be surprised to learn that only a few percent of the greater than two trillion dollar annual outlay for healthcare goes for prevention—and most of that negligible amount is for inoculations, with almost nothing for changing health behaviors—which is at the center of problem. Without changes in unhealthy behaviors we are doomed to endless treatments at huge costs with no light at the end of the tunnel—if there is a tunnel!

When it comes to healthcare don’t expect free lunch. Pay now or pay astronomically more later when society must contend with debilitating diseases and chronic disabilities that are the consequence of earlier neglect.

If we had the will to seriously address the health crisis that is upon us, the logical place to focus our efforts would be on children—that’s where healthy practices can bring long term and comprehensive positive results. So any effort to get children on the right track with nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyles is right on the mark.

One encouraging development is the appearance of children’s books that promote healthy food choices. In one popular comic style book for young children “The Snak Posse,”—SNAK sands for super nutritionally active kids—Tommy and his superhero friends made of fruits and vegetables fight their arch enemy, the Sugar Coat Gang. In a more advanced version for older children Banana Bolt and company take on the evil warlord who is turning teenagers into zombies with junk food. Like all fairy tales the ending is happy with the snak posse saving the world with fresh nutrients. These are engaging stories with a good message.

More recently (March. 2008) my colleague, Dr. Marcella Bakur Weiner, published a book for young children, “Junkfood Bear,” with beautiful illustrations by Theresa Kasun that describes a familiar realistic situation of children obsessively drawn to foods destructive to health and vitality—-their preference for junk food over healthy choices. It also shows how inspiration from friends can sometimes be the change agent. In the story Junkfood Bear consumes junk food non-stop—mostly sugary and fatty foods—and thinks it’s “cool.” His regimen has predictable results—Junk food Bear is tired and listless most of the time with little interest in anything but eating more junk food. A number of friends pass his window and try to persuade him to join them in outdoor fun, but he has little interest. Finally he’s enticed by a bear friend with a two- seater bicycle. But Junkfood Bear’s weight and his distraction from sucking on a lollypop lead to a crash. From that fall —fortunately no serious injuries—he has an epiphany. And when he’s invited to a picnic of healthy foods by his bear friends he discovers the value of good nutrition.

The story offers a useful window for parents to discuss and elaborate on the subject of health and nutrition which can provide a foundation for further input and education that could have long range positive health consequences.

Visit Dr. Weiner’s blog and learn more about her book and the spiritual philosophy that inspired her to write “Junkfood Bear:” Junkfoodbear.

(My recently published book "Escape Your Own Prison: Why We Need Spirituality and Psychology to be Truly Free" is now available at Amazon.com,Barnes& Noble.com and other major book outlets.)

— — —

Bernard Starr, Ph.D., formerly professor of developmental and educational psychology at the City University of New York, now teaches “Spirituality in Film” and leads “The Spiritual Forum” at Marymount Manhattan College. In addition to his work in radio, he is a longtime contributor of commentary and opinion articles to numerous major publications. He is also the President of the Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy and is the main United Nations representative for the Institute of Global Education that founded the Mucherla Global School in Mucherla, India. His book "Escape Your Own Prison: Why We Need Spirituality and Psychology to be Truly Free" is published by Rowman and Littlefield (October 2007). He can be reached at: starrone@aol.com. © Copyright 2008 by Bernard Starr.