,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, PRAYING page 63 The RNS/RI CHAR D NOWITZ Your parents always wanted the best for YOU... Now it's your turn to give them the best. a PG A kibbutznik uses a combine to harvest wheat. The (Premier Rental Retirement Community 24111 Civic Center Drive • Southfield, MI 48034 (810) 352-0208 L ci INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL WEIGHT MANAGEMENTT JENSEN COUNSELING CENTERS, P.C. Our Program Provided the Following Features: Cr) • ' dividualized weight loss programs. Medically supervised and in • Medication management and follow-up. • Personal fitness training (in-home optional)and behavioral therapy. • Nutrition and diet counseling. • Board Certified Physicians, Nurses and Nutrition Counselors. • Stress management and anxiety reduction. • PMS and hormonal regulation. • Physicians specializing in child, adolescent and adult eating disorders. LU MARY ROBIN PETERS, M.D., P.C. FRANCINE I. FRIEDMAN, M.D., P.C. LU F- LU LU 64 Jensen Counseling Centers, P.C. Immediate Appoinbnents Available Most Insurances Accepted Monday — Saturday Daytime and Evening Hours 26105 ORCHARD LAKE RD, SUITE 301 • FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 PHONE (810) 478-4411 • FACSIMILE (810) 478-5346 t The study looked at the mor- tality records at the kibbutzim from Jan. 1, 1970, to Dec. 31, 1985. In adults 35 and over, 268 deaths occured — 69 on the reli- gious kibbutzim, 199 on the sec- ular. The kibbutzim were paired based on their locations, use of the same hospital, similar number of members over age 40 and dates of establishment. This was done to eliminate factors that might ad- versely affect the outcome, such as one kibbutz receiving a lower quality of medical care in their lo- cal hospital. The members of the kibbutzim tended to be of European origin and the educational level was al- most identical between the two communities. Occupation and the standard of living were similar and the eco- nomic structures were identical. "Hence, social class difference, an important determinant of health, cannot explain the find- ings," Dr. Kark said. The causes of death among the members of both kibbutzim were similar and typical of a developed country — heart disease, stroke, cancer, accidents and suicides ac- counted for 83 percent of the deaths. The lower death rate among the religious kibbutzim was consistent among all the caus- es of death and even superseded the longer life span usually en- joyed by women. Secular women did not live longer than religious men. In 1991, Dr. Kark and his fel- low researchers looked at some conventional risk factors linked to poor health. Cholesterol levels were higher among the secular men and women, while the reli- gious men and women had high- er rates of diabetes. Smoking was more common among the secular population and the intake of sat- urated fatty acids and total fat was a little lower among the re- ligious men and women. The difference of fat intake was attributed to the laws of kashrut prohibiting the mixing of milk and meat products. Dr. Mervyn Susser, editor of I the American Journal of Public Health, called Dr. Kark's study "a well-designed piece of work" that helps re-examine an issue that has long intrigued both clergy and the medical world. "The study gives a fairly dis- tinctive illustration of the fact that many beliefs and the life that fol- lows can have an effect on one's health," said Dr. Susser, who is a professor emeritus of epidemiolo- gy and a special lecturer at Co- lumbia University. The authors of the study hy- pothesize that a coherent world view, a relaxation response in- duced by frequent prayer, repeti- tive ritualistic behavior ("and strict observance of Sabbath and 41 1 festivals dedicated to rest and prayer"), highly stable marriages (the divorce rate was 11 times higher on the secular kibbutzim than on the religious) and a strong sense of well-being among the re- ligious kibbutzim (there were five suicides on the secular kibbutz- im, versus one on the religious) might contribute to their longer life span. While the unusual make-up of a kibbutz lends itself well to Dr. AI Kark's research; the question still remains if his findings can be ap- plied to other segments of the Jew- ish population. Earlier studies have found a lower rate of coro- nary disease among Orthodox Jews, but he and his co-authors said those results may have been affected by other factors such as social class, ethnic group and availablity of medical services. "The basic question is, if these findings are replicated in other settings, then what are the caus- es of- the protective effect?" he asked. Dr. Kark and his colleagues are continuing to work with the kib- butzim to try to unlock the mys- tery of why religious observance seems to promote health. "It would be nice to get a han- 41 dle on it," he said. ❑