Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-08-30
CHAPTER FOR FAT PEOPLE.
The Danger i'm Diminishing the Guam
THY OfFat.

Now, while granting that certain
amount of embonpoint is not only adj
yantageous, but a sign of good health
and sound constitution, especially in
people about 40years of age, it cannot
be denied that too much adiposity con
stitutes disease, and-there is no use
mincing matters often very serious
one Stoutness certainly does not
conduce to long life. Every one will
admit that much, only stout people
rest their minds-if, indeed, stout peo-
pies minds ever do need resting-by
imagining that they will not always
be fat, that zone of these days." and
so on. But here | must confess my
belief that our fat friends are usually
inclined to be apathetic about their
condition, and that, to good many
of them, zone of these days" never
does arrive in the sense they meant it
to-
The disadvantages of obesity arenu-
merous, its dangers to both health and
life not few. One of the very least
of the former is the difficulty afat per-
son has in getting about, and in tax
ing that amount of exercise without
which the body cannot long be main
tanned, in the only state that can with
propriety be called condition.
THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE.
Exercise alone will not reduce a
mans weight, though people usually
believe so, but exercise will retard the
accumulation of fat. Adipose It's
sue is, in those inclined to corpulency,
usually deposited not only under the
skin-it would be well, indeed, if this
were all-but in the spaces between
the various muscles of the limbs, all
round the heart and the kidneys, and
in many other vital positions that
need not be named. The accumula-
ton of fat on and around the muscles
naturally prevents activity Ofmotion;
but it does more and worse, for it
throws a serious obstacle in the way
of those muscles receiving a due
amount of nutrition; they are there
fore weakened and rendered fiabby.
And here let me point out a fact to
those of my readers who may medi-
tate treating themselves for thereduc-
ton of obesity. You may sometimes
hear an expression like the following
from stout man in the prime of life:
IF [ could get rid of some 20 or %
pounds of flesh such people will
persist in calling it fesh-"what [
could dor eyes, my friend" [
should reply, "and pray what could
you do? For if you were to get rid of
nearly all the fat that is on you to-
morrow or the day after you would
not be able to walk twice the length
of your own garden for cold and fati-
que. Your muscles are attenuated
and fabby, and if deprived suddenly
Of their cushions of fat they would be
of very little use indeed. That really
is. the truth, whether you like it or
not.
THE DEPOSITION OF FAT
round the kidneys or on the heart
comes in time to interfere very seri-
ously with the functions of those or
CANS and to engender diseases which
ultimately lead to dropsy of fatal
character. If the heart is prevented
from acting as it ought to, the health
cannot be long maintained. If it bea
fabby heart, the blood will be impov-
erished, the person will have sallow
look, and be more or less bloated in
appearance. If the heart is enlarged
or hypertrophied, we may expect
much difficulty In breathing, especial
ly if the patient attempts quick walk
ing or hurried climbing of stairs, and
perhaps frequent swimming in the
head, and a sensation of falling, even
in dreams at night.
The fat is sometimes not merely de
posted on the heart, but among its
muscles, causing degeneration of the
walls of that organ, rendering the suf
ferer quite unfit for the more active
duties of life. The respiration of fat
people is very much interfered with;
indeed one might say it is seldom or
never carried on with complete feel
ing of comfort. Nor, on the other
hand, is the digestion strong, nor the
appetite either, unless excited by hot
sauces or vinOus stimulants.
If we glance for a moment or two
at the most common causes of corpu-
lency, we shall think, get hints as
to the most rational plan of treat
ment.
SHOULD BE KEPT WITHIN BOUNDS.
Corpulency is often constitutional :;
but even if it be, that is no reason,
remember, that it should not be kept
within due bounds. A too easy mind,
and sanguine manner of looking at
the everyday personal occurrences of
life, is cause over which one has lit
tie, if any, control. Success in life IS
wished for devoutedly by all, but it
often has the effect of rendering peo-
pie, who are constitutlonlly inclined
to be so, very corpulent. Well, peo-
pie cannot be expected to manufac-
ture small worries for themselves in
order to keep within due bounds cor
poreally, but they can avoid the
pleasures of the table, however well
off in the world they may be. Indul-
gence in beer, stout, and in wine and
spirits has tendency to increase the
amount of fat; so has the use of sugar,
Il L l.