TOO MUCH EATING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18015, 14 February 1922, Page 9

TOO MUCH EATING.

"OUR OUTRAGEOUS HABITS."

WORST IN THE WORLD,

DR. WELKINS' OPINION.

" While I was reading this morning an account of the fine physical condition and mentally of the Japanese tho train drew up at Featherston," said Dr. Wilkins, director of tho division of school hygiene, in an interview at Masterton. " Here the passengers stampeded to the refreshment room, hurrying to gulp down sandwiches and tea during the few moments at their disposal. At that moment I had just raised my eyes to the following sentence: 'A Japanese labourer is content to work a whole day on a dinner of tomatoes, cucumbers, and salad.' I do not say that such is a perfect diet. The contrast, however, is comic. Indeed, it is tragic. It is true that the toothless, flat-chested, roundshouldered man (spare the mark) who leaned upon a luggago truck on the platform, sculped down the nutriment and stimulant he did not need—it is true that this man is representative of the type of manhood which is now growing up in the Dominion as a result of our appalling food habits? If it is so, it is not to be wondered at. In the railway carriage on my right a child of three was being fed on sweet biscuits and tea —one of the most injurious combinations a child can bo given. To ono who sees so much of this origin of national disease and phvsicaj unfitness in this country in tno medical examination of school children, this picturo is depressing in the extreme. Our outrageous habits of feeding both ourselves and our children are the direct cause of the expenditure of millions in future years. Tho food habits of New Zealanders are tho worst in the world."

''As a direct result we have tho worst teeth in tho world. In proportion to our unparalleled advantages tho amount of preventable disease in tho Dominion is probably greater than in any other country. Are we not a.shamed to demand food and drink five to seven times a day? Is our vitality so poor that wo cannot exist for more than two hours on end without nourishment and stimulant?

"There is no question that the prevalent habit of taking tea, cake, biscuit, and confectionery at frequent and irregular intervals, and between meals, is the most potent of all causes of malnutrition, indirection, and dental disease. Xo adult or child over three years of age requires more than three meals a day. More than this is not only unnecessary and wasteful, but is positively damaging to health. Next to the eiTor oi* unduly frequent eating is tho enormous amount of manufactured sugar eaten. New Zealanders consume more sugar per bead than any other country in tho world. The wholesale refining oi cereal and farinaceous foodstuffs is probablv the next most serious error."