THE IDEAL WEIGHT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3382, 11 July 1927, Page 8

THE IDEAL WEIGHT.

“A lean horse for a long roe©” is a motto justified by life-insurance experience, we are told! by Dr Eugene Lyman Fisk, in an article under the above heading, contributed to The American Insurance Union Magazine Columbus, Ohio). It has been possible for insurance companies, he says, to select a very favorable class of light' weight, but impossible, m spite of tneir care and selection, to secure a favorable type of heavyweight. In middle-aged ahdl elderly groups there is approximately one point higher death-rate for every pound of overweight. That is, 40 pounds overweight shows approximately 40 per cent, extra mortality. He goes on: — “In the absence of pathology, the average weight at age 30 is the ideal weight to maintain throughout maturity. Experience shows that those maintaining this weight exhibit the most favorable mortality. After middle life, even extreme lightweight may be incompatible with good health. “The usual gain in weight with advancing years is so universal that it has been accepted as normal or physiological, whereas it is not normal, but the result of disease-producting and lifeshortening influences. A youthful figure, as a rule, reflects supei'ior vitality, other tilings being equal. “In keeping the weight at the ideal point, more reliance must be placed upon diet than upon- exercise. The average exercise system for reducing weight is illogical, usually futile and temporary in its effects, and oftentimes it is dangerous when undertaken without knowledge of the underlying physical condition of the individual. “When we know that it requires eight hours’ steady walking on the level to burn up about four ounces of fat, we can readily see how difficult it is to keep the weight down by exercise alone. The average civilised individual is necessarily physically inactive as compared to primitive man, he can not adjust his activities to conform to the ideal of physical exorcise. “Exercise should, of course, be followed for its other beneficial effects as well as for weight reduction. In heavyweights, this must be graded very carefully according to the type of individual and physical condition. It is desirable to secure as much exercise as possible within the required limitations. But it is a mistake to suppose that the weight cannot be reduced and kept where it belongs without strenuous exercise far beyond the individaul’s power to maintain it regularly.” The average adult overweight person is usually overfed, according to Dr Fisk, as well as underexercised. Generally speaking, he says, overweight is duo to the fact that more food of a certain kind is being taken than is required by the body to maintain its activity. And this excess of food is accumulated as fatty tissue. To quote further:

“In combating overweight, it is not absolutely necessary to cut out entirely the high-ealoried or fat-forming foods. Such foods should, of course, be cut down. By cutting out sugar, for example, as a sweetening agent at the table, by omitting bread and breadstuffs from two meals during the day, by eliminating heavy pastries, candy, and extra food' indulgences, an enormous advantage may be _ gained in weight reduction. The elimination of such fat-forming foods, and the substitution of such foods as lettuce, tomatoes, celery, carrots, spinach, and fruits —all of which have low fuel value —would enormously reduce the available energy and therefore _ the fatforming elements in the diet, yet fill the stomach and satisfy the hunger craving. •-011011 ai carefully planned dietary will be defeated by extra meals and food indulgences such as candy, nuts, sodas or sundaes, which are looked upon by many as 'having no dietetic significance. As a matter of fact, these indulgences, as a rule, have enormous fat-fonning power. “There are no special breads, baths, drugs, mineral waters, or other similar forms of treatment that have any power to bring about weight reduction. Some of these preparations are distinctly harmful. Barring cases of active endocrine disease, nothing can be accomplished that depends upon any principle other than the reduction of the bigh fat-forming fods anod the substitution of those that have little fatforming qualities. “As has already been suggested, after the age of thirty, underweight, unless extreme and unless associated with lowered health, is not an unfavorable condition, but before the age of twenty-five pronounced underweights is an unfavorable condition, often associated with lack of resistance to pulmonary affections and to other diseases of youth. , “When underweight is associated with a tendency to frequent colds, and there is a condition of debility, anaemia, or general malnutrition, it is at any age an unfavorable symptom—especially if there has been a recent loss n weight—and search .should be mad© for tuberculosis, focal infection or for any other possible underlying cause. Under such, conditions the diet should be directed toward improving nutrition and inducing a point gain in weight. “Although the weight that is lacking can be supplied only by food, we can not rely upon diet alone to accomplish this result. Every effort should be made to stimulate the whole organisftu by healthful recreation and by exercise kept within the limits of the individual’s capacity. Exhaustive physical exercise should be avoided.”