DIETING CRAZE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 16 January 1928, Page 3

DIETING CRAZE

DOCTORS’ WARNING (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 14th. January. “The erase for dieting 1 its almost- .as bad as the craze for sugar. •• By oil). tnVans,' out in 'moderation; but do hot deprive yourself of the essential foods merely from I'eaf of getting fat. If you were born lo be fat you'll get fat, and that’s all about it. Reduction by a strenuous programme of dieting will prove extretaely harmful. Avoid excesses, eat moderately and in variety, and you’ll never have to worry about your figure.” This was typical of tlie adyice given a reporter to-day by city doctors interested -in tlio English cable published' yesterday that the feminirie craze for slimness had resulted in a tremendous drop in the importation of sugar. While agreeing that the quantity of sugar nowadays consumed ill the form of sweets is extremely harmful, they stress the necessity of a moderate aihount- “of stanch -and sugar. Oh the wider question of dieting ; they express the "unanimous cohviction that except in certain special cases undue restriction of food may be extremely harmful-to th’e body rincl weaken its resistance to disease. “There is not the slightest doubt/’ explained one medical man, “that the large consumption of sweets is a verb bad tiling for the national health. I hear that one' single chocolate manufacturer sells over 1500 tons of chocolates a year. Consider, then, what the total consumption must be, taking into account the sale of chocolates and sweets of every New. Zealand manufacturer, in addition to the imported goods. The chocolate habit is a very bad one. Jt ruins the health as weir as the teeth. A moderate amount of sugar in the form of swaets will do no harm provided they are eaten with discretion and at the right time. ' • While admitting that a moderate amount of sugar was essential another doctor protested against all forms of dieting and “green leafing.” “The cult of dieting that has arisen during recent years has had more Serious results than most people imagine. Dieting on medi-cal-advice is right enough, but there ate too ihany people who suddenly conic* to the conclusion that"they are getting fat and promptly stop eating the essential foods, without oven consulting the doctors’ opinion. If theso people could see'some of the cases we have'attended where sudden dieting has brought on madness, and even death, they would think three times about- these crazy ideas of "green leafing. Eat moderately, and in variety, lead a clean, active life, keep regular hours, and you need never worry about that figure.”