Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-30
Long Life Assured
For the Thin Man

New Ork, july % "a. P.)-Ihlr.
ty is the magical age in the health
development of the ordinary per-
sons life. At thirty he is supposed
more nearly to approach the normal
! Under thirty he may we'll weigh a
number of pounds above the average
called for in the standard height,
weight and age tables, but after
thirty the longest life span prevails
among those whose weights are uni
| formly below the average, according
to figures compiled by the Metropol-
itan Life Insurance Company, of this
| city, and given out by the American
Child Health Association.
! The association asks everyone to
keep track of his or her weight, and
to remedy any excess by diet and
| right living.
! In statement accompanying the
| figures DR.. Louis L. Dublin, of the
| Insurance company, who compiled
! them, says:
After thirty, people who weigh
! less than the average have a better
chance for long life, the records of
; the insurance companies show. At
| ter this age it is a decided advan-
tage to be slight and serious
handicap to gain materially in
weight; provided, of course, that the
light weight is not the result of a
sudden loss in weight which may be
the result of organic disease"
But the weight tables posted on
public scales" he continues, should
! not be taken too literally. Young
persons may we'll weigh a number
| of pounds above the average called
for by the tables. An excess of ten
pounds is associated with the most
favorable conditions among people
between twenty and twenty-five
years old.
THE public should realize these
facts and accommodate their habits
OF diet and exercise to them. In
America we eat too much and too
well. The oriental coolie and the
European peasant do an enormous
amount of physical work on a
meagre diet. No one advocates a
return to primitive conditions or to
lower standards of living, but it
would be well for us to keep in
mind the exact requirements of the
adult body. We should recognize
that when we have grown up we
no longer need food for growth, and
that for the replacement of burned
up tissues we need only about $500
calories a day. This is equivalent
TO two very light meals and one
hearty meal a day. Let me illus
trate with menu for an entire day
Tor an active adult which will con-
tain the required $500 calories.
For breakfast he may have a small
average serving of cooked fruit or
an apple or an orange, a serving of
cereal. a slice of bread or one muffin
or roll with butter. a-cup of coffee
with sugar and cream. This will
contain about 600 calories. The
luncheon may consist of a salad,
bread and butter, a choice Of coffee.
tea. or cocoa, with sugar and cream
and dessert. This will account for
600 calories. The important meal
of the day, or dinner may consist
of soup, an average serving of
! meat. Potato, two green vegetables,
bread and butter and a dessert, If
average portions are served, a total
of about 1000 calories will be in
cludcd. This would make the total
for the day approximately $500
calories.
IF more people checked their diet
/ to the reasonable limits of their
body requirements, there would be
great Improvement in the general
health of the nation"