People who have a faith tend to be happier with their health

HAVING a religious faith makes people feel healthier, the latest government figures suggest.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published data linking religion and health in an effort “to understand the circumstances of people of different religious identities”.

It found that people aged 16 and over who had no religion were significantly less likely to be satisfied with their health.

Religious and secular experts have drawn different conclusions from the data. The former claim that people who have a faith are more likely “to be hopeful for a better future”, while the latter reject that religion has “any magic powers”.

The ONS found that 66 per cent of Muslims, 68 per cent of Christians, 69 per cent of Sikhs, 71 per cent of Buddhists, 72 per cent of Hindus and 77 per cent of Jews were satisfied with their health between 2016 and 2018.

In contrast, 64 per cent of people who had no religion reported being satisfied with their health.

Responding to the latest data, Michael Wakelin, head of programmes at

‘You are more likely to be hopeful, so that if things are a bit tough now they will improve in God’s good time’

Coexist House, which works in conjunction with the University of Cambridge, and chair of the Religion Media Centre, said: “Well, it’s clearly complex.

“But I guess this has something to do with an attitude of gratitude. If you are of the opinion that God loves you and He created you, you are more likely to be grateful for what you have.

“Also if you have a faith you are more likely to be hopeful for a better future, so that even if things are a bit tough now they will improve in God’s good time.

“For Christians, there is an understanding that love and suffering are the two great mysteries that cannot be separated – so perhaps we endure the one in the knowledge that it is part of the other.”

In contrast, Stephen Evans, chief executive officer at the National Secular Society, said: “Caution must be applied before granting religion any magic explanatory powers based on these findings.

“To do so would oversimplify a much more complex and nuanced picture. More research into the interplay between religion, non-religion and health is necessary before any potential inequalities can be understood and addressed.”

The ONS also reported that smoking prevalence was significantly higher among those who identified with no religion. Many religions prohibit smoking and alcohol consumption.