PROBLEM OF OBESITY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3287, 5 March 1926, Page 3

PROBLEM OF OBESITY

WEIGHT-RED UCTN G METHODS. VIEWS OF PHYSICIANS. NEW YORK, Feb. 24. Over 20,000 inquiries from women who wished to know if dieting to reduce weight is unhealthy were discussed by a convention, at which physicians, dieticians and nutritionists met to formulate proper and healthy reducing methods. Dr. Joseph Bloodgood, of John Hopkins University .said that while fat could be removed surgically, it was not a good method. He considered that people should be educated to ■ fear improper diet. He believed that the food of primitive races was the besjt diet, because it was largely milk and vegetable, with nothing canned or preserved. He pointed out that primitive races suffered less from cancer than civilised peoples. Dr. KuniseJ. Wilder, of the Mayo Clinic, said that the reducing habit was productive of more good than harm if a proper diet were followed. Dr. Menas Gregory, chief psychopathic at Bellevue, Hospital characterised the mode’T: tendency of women to reduce as "psychic contagion.” It frequently resulted in serious mental disorders when women over-re-reduced. They became irritable and depressed. Dr. Arthur Cramp, chief of the medical investigators alt-tending the' convention, stated that many thousands of women waste money on treatment for reducing weight which Is worthless, and often dangerous to health. A tremendous impetus had been given quackery by the vogue of the boyish figure, said Dr. Cramp. He said that those who eat must exercise a lif|tle if they are likely to become obese. The conference decided to wan people to avoid all practitioners wh< claim to reduce by special treatment and also to urge physicians to stud: each reducing case carefully and kee it under constant observation. Dr. Dublin, who represented th< life insurance companies at the convention. stated that over-weight became a decided menace to health after the ag 0 of 85. j