Health of French Priests: 43% Are Overweight

Too much work, depression, obesity, and alcohol abuse are the main health hazards of the priests in France, a November 25 report of the French Bishops shows.

The survey involved 6,313 priests, from 105 dioceses, under the age of 75, representing 42% of all priests in France.

On average, French priests allegedly work 9.4 hours a day, few are smokers, 43% overweight, and 20% obese. More than two in five reported they abuse alcohol. 8% suffer from chronic alcohol addiction.

Almost two in ten priests showed signs of depression. Some 7% experienced a condition of “professional exhaustion” while almost 2% reported work-related burnout. Since 2016, seven priests committed suicide, two of them in 2020.

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Eva

Nov 27, 2020

Some more details

Alcohol - two out of five priests have problems with it
8% never consume alcohol
30% consume it at least four times a week.
73% of them consume one to two glasses a day
1.5% take in more than seven glasses a day

Tobacco

88% of the participants are non-smokers

77% of the smokers consume less than ten cigarettes per day
2% are heavy smokers (more than 30 cigarettes per day)

Depression and Burnout:
9% suffer from a depressive syndrome (according to the HAS - Haute Autorité de santé)
7% present a moderate depressive syndrome
3% present a moderately severe to severe syndrome.

76% have a low degree of burnout
7% have a high degree of burnout.

74% have a low degree of depersonalisation
6% have a high degree of depersonalisation.
2% suffer from a complete burnout.

Obesity – significant number is overweight
More than 6 in 10 priests are overweight or obese.
According to the BMI (body mass index): 43% of respondents are overweight, 20% obese.

Jungerheld

Nov 28, 2020

My goodness...