FOOD FACTOR IN OBESITY

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27705, 8 July 1955, Page 6

FOOD FACTOR IN OBESITY

Canadian Doctor’s Comment

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) OTTAWA, July 6. A leading Canadian doctor said yesterday that a middle-aged person could grow fat on one four-ounce glass of apple juice a day.

“When one thinks of overeating as a cause of obesity, one usually has a picture of rich foods, second helpings and in-between-meal snacks,” the physician. Dr. J. A. F. Stevenson, said. He was addressing a national nutrition conference.

The average daily energy requirements of a 10-stonfe man-decreased by about 60 calories a day between the ages of 30 and 50, he said. ‘‘lf this man continues his normal activities and food intake , during this period, he will be exceeding his food requirements by 60 calories a day by the time he is 50 and will be gaining about 51b of solid fat a year,” he added.

‘‘This gain does not require any gourmandising . . . the excess intake would be represented by one fourounce glass of apple juice a day.” The doctor said that reducing regimes would have more permanent effect if they were coupled with a moderate increase in physical activity. “An increased output of energy of only 200 calories a day will prevent the gain of some 151 b of fat in one year,” he said.