The Battle of the Bulge: A 20-Year Prophetic Warning About Faith, Health, and Obesity
From the Pen of Dr. Curtis Ball — sounding the alarm long before health influencers existed.
Your body is not a burden, it’s a temple. And how we treat that temple reveals what we believe about the One who made it
Reflection: From the Pen of Dr. Curtis Ball
Before the clicks. Before the cameras. Before “health influencer” was even a title, I was sounding the alarm.
In October of 2005, I wrote a piece for The Sunday Sun titled “The Struggle with Obesity Continues to Rise.” I didn’t write it for recognition. I wasn’t thinking about followers, funnels, or fame. I wrote it because I saw a fire, and I refused to stay silent.
I saw the rising tide of obesity overall—especially in our Black and Brown communities—not just as a medical issue, but as a spiritual battle. I knew then what I still preach now: your body is not a burden, it’s a temple. And how we treat that temple reveals what we believe about the One who made it.
“If the church loses the battle for the body, it weakens the power of the mind and the witness of the soul.”
Now, nearly 20 years later, my voice has more reach—but my message hasn’t changed.
Original Article Archive
Title: Face to Face: The Struggle with Obesity Continues to Rise
Published: October 9, 2005 | The Sunday Sun, Page 9
By: Dr. Curtis Ball, D.O.
Obesity Statistics: Then and Now
Comparing data from 2005 to today reveals not just changing numbers, but an ongoing spiritual battle for how we steward our bodies. Here’s why this 20-year span matters.
2005
- 33.9% of adults classified as obese overall
- 38.2% obesity rate among Black adults
- 33.6% obesity rate among Hispanic adults
2025
- 42.4% of adults classified as obese overall
- 48.4% obesity rate among Black adults
- 43.3% obesity rate among Hispanic adults
“What a 20-year trend tells us about our collective health and spiritual stewardship.”
Ready to Fight the Battle for Your Body?
If you’re serious about reclaiming your health and honoring the temple God gave you, let’s talk. I’m offering a free 15-minute Health Stewardship Audit to:
- Uncover your biggest health-spiritual blind spots
- Pinpoint the one shift that’ll move the needle the fastest
- Create a faith-rooted action step you can start today