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insidious development over a number of years and its elimination
is certain to prove equally protracted. It is true that since the
evolution of man he has been confronted with obesity and its
complications but, over the years, its connotations have changed.
Up to modern times plump people were usually regarded as the
symbols of prosperity, abundance and the good things of life.
Indeed, the corpulent state was the hallmark of success, good
health, good nature, strength and influence. We now know better
and, during the past few years, there has been a dramatic revision
in the attitude towards fat people. Reubens' ideal of feminine
pulchritude, euphemistically called "embonpoint" is no longer
acceptable in the 20th Century not only in "fashion" circles but
in the medical world generally.
That obesity is often slow to claim its eventual victims in no
way vitiates its potential for ill and it is rapidly becoming recognised
as the causal agent of many of society's prolific killers.
Statistics show that, for obese individuals, life expectancy is
shortened not only by heart disabilities but also by a number of
other degenerative conditions such as liver, kidney and gallbladder
diseases, diabetes, etc., which, in many instances, are
accompanied by the painful and crippling effects of arthritis.
Furthermore, apart from the rise in incidence rates of hernias,
varicose veins, blood pressure and other circulatory disorders,
treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema
is rendered less effective and accidents and operative risks
are correspondingly greater. It has been estimated that more than
6% of men and over 11% of women are more than 20% overweight.
Overweight women find more difficulty in conceiving and, even
when they do conceive, they frequently run into pregnancy
troubles. With the average woman there is a weight gain during
pregnancy of approximately 91bs. (excluding the baby and the
products of conception) which consists mainly of additional food
stores laid down for motherhood and which remains after the
baby is born. Often no efforts are made to shed this extra
weight which probably accounts for much of the obesity found in
middle-aged women.
In men, the incidence of obesity and its disabilities appear to
have risen proportionally with the increase in popularity and
availability of the motor car.
In infants, rapid weight gain is associated with artificial feeding
and the early introduction of cereals for, whereas there is a
natural limit to the intake of calories in the breast fed baby, overfeeding
is possible (and common) with the artificially fed child.