New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
0R. SARGENT ON OBESITY
Advice Of Harvard Professor to
the CorpuIent Fair.

auov To Be Thin Though Forty; or. The
co,fessiors Of a Prima Donna Who Gave
y. rating The man OF the house is
"a IN laugh whenever he sees these
IDS for there is only one subject more
,,ovo,ative Of mirth in the dominant sex
nan votes for women" and that one is
,'rbappy woman's attempts 10 reduce her
~..igbt This time however, mere Mr.
Man will not laugh long. for a mightier
han he has arisen to champion the fat
,-on,sn's cause. and IL behoovcs him to
r,a,ntsir a respectful silence This is no
t..s q person than DR. Dudley A. Sargent
s,rsctor OF the Hemenway Gymnasium Of
harvard University and authority on all
matters Of health and athletics, who has
bssr so benevolent as TO advise the cor
,ulent fair about their exercise, diet and
snIritual we'lbeinE in the current issue If
,The Ladies' Home Journal"
It's a serious matter, too. It's a matter.
Ne saws. Of keeping OF impending disease
and an early death" It IS not simply a
matter Of securing a more comfortable
existence The learned professor scorns to
mention the misery Of bursting ones but
tons or being unable to wear Cousin
gaura's CASTOR Paris gowns. No, this IS
no subject for trifing.
'The diseases which follow obesity" says
mr. Sargent may affect the brain. heart,
lungs, stomach. liver. kidneys or blood yes
sails and are usually hard 10 bear on ac-
eo,nt Of the excessive fat. This is the
reason why insurance companies are so re-
Iuctsnt 10 accept persons who are unusu-
,Ilv fnt woman who IS corpulent has
GOT into q situation from which II is very
dif1cult 10 extricate herself Increased
weight calls for greater expenditure Of en-
srey in moving about increased eXpendi-
ture Of energy increases the appetite, moro
10 increase the accumulation Of fat by
interfering with the normal processes OF
oxidation and combustion"
II is worth while 10 avoid premature old
age and death, as we'll as TO be able 10
wear the prevailing styles. But let not the
middle-aged woman hope 10 fashion her
figure after Venus or Diana. Juno is her
model represented as "a majestic woman
of mature age. with a beautiful forehead
and large, vide-o opened eyes. with a grave
expression commanding reverence
How shall Mrs. New York become Juno
esque? Alas, advancing civilization has
deprived her Of those benefcent physical eX-
ercises contained in homework. She can
not develop her thighs by running up and
down stairs in her little fat. she cannot
strengthen her chest and straighten her
spine by scrubbing the floor or develop her
arms and back by running lawn mower.
She must resort to artificial exercise.
"Danciog and swimming are the safest Of
the popular forms Of exercise" says DR..
Sargent, but both subject the heart and
lungs TO considerable strain and should be
taken up with extreme caution after one is
forty years old. The best eXercises>for the
average woman Of forty who wishes 70 get
sport and recreation at the same time are,
in my opinion. the following: Archery, hi
cycling bowling canoeing. croquet, golf.
rowing, fishing and sailing. The attempt Of
some physical educators and trainers 70 re-
duce the weight Of women well along in
middle years by vigorous physical exercises
cannot he too severely condemned as gen
eral policy.
"A much better WAY Of accomplishing
this result is to keep up generally diff
fused mental and physical activity through
interests and trying % move along with the
procession If such a woman has children
let her become deeply interested in their
lives and in their playmates and compsn-
ions and all that interests them"
When all these sugar coated methods fail.
Dr. Sargent admits she who would be slim
must resort To dieting. go without one
meal a day" he urges. There is no danger
Of starvation, most people eat from force
Of habit. not because they are hungry"
Besides giving up ones favorite foods
and drinks one must sacrifice the last re-
sort Of the unheppy-sieep. It Is easy
enough IN 60 without breakfast or luncheon
II one sleeps until II O'Clock, but this relief
Is not for YOU, ladies Of the anti-fat brig
sde Seven or eight hours Is absolutely the
limit Of sleep allowed YOU, and nothing
must tempt the woman who desires TO re-
duce her weight 10 take second nap after
once awakening Eternal vigilance is the
price Of anti-fat." SAYS Or. Sargent In con-
clusion