Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20
DO PEOPLE EAT TOO MUCHP
Evidence That We Give Our Bodies
More Food Than Needed.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune
The director of the Sheffield Scientific
School, Prof Russell H. Chittenden,
throws a little new light on old question
in the Popular Science Monthly for June
He mentions a discrepancy which he has
observed between fact and theory regard
ing the amount Of food man should take
Volt of Munich and Atwater OF Middletown.
Conn, for instance, have set up certain
standards, which are fairly close together
person doing moderate work." say these
experts. should take from lis to 125 grams
of proteids and enough fats and sugars to
raise the total fuel value of his rations to
between 5000 and $500 large calories''
For heavy work" they recommend a diet
yielding from 1870 to $500 calories daily
Careful experiments with laboratory as
sistant at Yale showed that forty-five
grams of proteids, with fat and sugars
would keep him in splendid condition. He
maintained his weight perfectly, and met
physical tests in the Yale gymnasium in a
surprising fashion. The comparison sug-
gests the possibility that the food allow
ances of Volt and Atwater are wasteful in
a pecuniary sense, and hamper the system
by involving unnecessary work in digestion
and eliminate ton.
Probably no fact in everyday life is bet
ter established than that the majority of
people eat too much Medical men are con-
tinually declaring that far more harm
comes from dietary excuses and careless
ness than from starvation. A large va
rietv and amount of sickness result from
that cause. Moreover, even when he Is in
apparent health, a mans activity is often
sensibly impaired for two or three hours
by a hearty meal Professional men in
particular thus affected. Efficiency is
Influenced by other factors. Exercise, ven
tilation and sleep. or the lack of them, tell
on ones capacity. Nutrition depends on
he ", xuyhf ol k,
what he eats. Again, taste or some social
obligation, rather than a recognized need
of nourishment, will often dictate the char
acter of even an ordinarily abstemious
largest amount of work and the best quail
ity of work out of himself. however he is
almost sure to cultivate moderati at the
table. at least until the conclusion Of his
days labor.
Whether the example cited by Prof. Chit
tenden should be accepted as a standard Is
another question. Possibly the require
ments Of that individual are exceptionally
small. No one mans experience can be
safely taken as rule for others Two per-
sons of the same weight and performing
precisely the same duties, and eating their
food with equal elaboration, may differ
sufficiently In other ways to demand dis
similarity in the amounts they consume
One may have good digestion and the
other a poor one. If. on the other hand,
there is difference in the character.
amount and hours of their work, a still
greater disparity in their needs might be
expected. Professor Chittenden does not
himself consider the question settled. He
wants it to be studied further. 1t Is to be
wished that a series Of tests might be de-
vised in which the conditions would be
altered so as to represent variety Of
types. Occupation, sex, age, general health,
leisure hour pursuits and other circum-
stances ought to be taken into account
A sliding scale would probably be the out
come of the research. Instructive az such
result would be-. it might be necessary,
even then. for some people to act little
Independently. 1t would hardly be correct
to say that every one is capable Of working
this problem out for himself: but, since
no two persons are exactly alike. 1t would
occasionally be judicious to rely largely
on observation Of ones own needs.