HEALTH HINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 15

HEALTH HINTS.

OBESITY. ]f the principles arc thoroughly grasped the treatment of obesity is comparatively simple. It resolves itself into a diminution of fat>forrnin<i food supplies, and an increase of fat elimination —that is to say. an increased output of energy and heat. The first of these requiremente is attained by strictly limiting the. intake of fats and carbohydrates. The degree to which this must Tie carried out depends upon the individual. ]n the mildest easeo of obesity it rear be quite sufficient to omit sugar from the diet: or it may be necessary to curtnil the amount of bread, potatoes, and other starchy food?. The fat taken must be reduced, butter and cream being entirelyy omitted if necessary, and skimmed milk substituted for whole. VThite. bread can be ndvnntagcously replaced by the wholemeal variety, and alcohol in any shape- or form should be excluded. And, speaking oi" alcohol, it might be mentioned that the total' amount of flnkls of any kind should be diminished. It these are. entirely omitted at meal times, mastication takes longer, and the. patient is satisfied with less food. There is no drug which will reduce the body-weight except by its effect's upon metabolism, usually acting by impairing the functions of the digestive organ*. In other words, such drugs may allow of the ordinary consumption of food, but prevents its digestion and assimilation: the appetite is satisfied, but the food consumed is "wasted, passing through the system without 'wing digested.

Having taken steps to limit the ingestion of fat-forming foods, measures must be .adopted to promote the combustion of fat. The clothing must he light, and the rooms cool. The heat necessary for the maintenance of health will then'be drawn from the stores of adipose tissue in the system. Thiw will undergo oxidation, and their combustion for this purpose will materially decrease the deposits. Cold bathing will be a gh'st help, not only as regards the consumption of heat, but also in stimulation of tw.-iie-rluuigeis generally, lastly, exercise requires energy in proportion to its intewity and duration. The greater the amount or exercise indulged in. the greater the draw upon the stores of imdeeired fat. Rut it mi:.;t be: remembered that exercise increases appetite. :ind is nit of it«elf sufficient to counteract ojcrwsivr eating Jt :.< difficult to resist -hr temptation to eaf when one is hungry, but the ap.petitc must be bridled, and condiments of every description must be ruthlessly banished from thr- table. And having oiis-c reduced the obcr.ity to reasonable limits, a minimum diet mufifbe established to prevent rea<Tiimulation.

Ai-cl nmv. ju«l n word to those who are inclined to bp cadaverous. As a rule, the appetite is ? o,.:l. but the output of energy is too great to permit of the storage of surplu* fat. Heading backward.*, tlipy will bo ahlc to derive many hints from the foregoing. Tin; ronarrvution or heat hy —and of energy, by |/»adi:i:r „,, pi,,,,,) „„ pxistem-c ;v, possible—are both durable. I would exhort them, however, tint t<. follow the example of the brewer's drayman; and. «t the worst, to console themselves with the kiiowlerf-rr 0| - t ! IP , fact that the "wiry" HT e the stron-rest and wear best in the struggle for rxiptencc.