The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-08-05

DR.. Barton pectancy of any in
dividual as 100 per
cent, his mortality or death rating
as influenced by overweight is given
In percentages. Thus a person 5
feet tall whose standard weight is
l29 pounds, but who weighs SO per
cent in excess, or 1873 pounds, has
mortality or death rate of ITO per
cent, or TO per cent above normal. =
In commenting upon this fact that
the death rate is increased in pro-
portion to the percentage or amount
Of overweight, DR.. Harry Gauss,
University of Colorado, in his book
Clinical Dietetics' says: There
is nothing amazing In these Stats
tics. A person whose normal weight
is $50 pounds and who weighs 1870
pounds is carrying 20 per cent ex-
cess body tissue. His heart is re-
quired to pump blood to 20 per
cent increased tissues by weight,
the kidneys must get rid of waste
matter from 20 per cent increased
tissue, the liver and pancreas must
do the work for the same increase
in tissue, and SO all the organs in
the abdomen (and also in the
chest are taxed by the increased
burden.
+ Now we know that Nature is very
generous, that the limit or margin
of safety in these organs is much
beyond the everyday needs of the
body 1--WE could live with one kid
ney, one half or less of the stomach,
of the liver, and of the intestine) !,
but the extra strain OF overweight
over a number Of years must re-
suit in a breaking down before it
otherwise would occur.
Tendency to Diabetes.
"And the reducing of the span OF
life is not the only penalty of over
weight. The increased tendency to-
ward diabetes is another DR.. E. P.
Joslin, Boston, the outstanding au-
thority on diabetes, has shown that
diabetes is from ten to twenty times
more common among fat persons
than in normal or undernourished
persons" DR.. w. E. Preble, Bos-
ton, who made observations on 1000
cases of obesity (overWeight)
found that 432 of the patients showed
evidence of organic heart disease,
230 showed functional diseases oil
the heart disturbances such as in
creased rate or irregularity). while
463 showed evidences of interior.
ence with the work of the kidneys
That overweight persons are poor
surgical risks is a common obser-
walton of the surgeons, and that
they offer less resistance to such
infections as pneumonia is a com
mon observation Also
Now the above facts should moi
make those of normal weight think
they would feel better, be more free
of ailments, and live longer if they
! were to reduce their weight. To be
of normal weight, with just the righi
amount of fat us to 20 per cent o.
the total body weight is an asset
Cut Down ON Bread.
Nor should those who are slightly
|, overweight give the above figures
much thought; a matter of to
pounds over the average weigh
should cause no concern. Perhap.
cutting down slightly on bread, but
ter and understanding more
would reduce the weight to norma
/ over a period of two to three
months.
Ills of course fortunate HID 10 /
certain point that the fashion fol
slimness has passed its height
stage directors no longer demand
that members of the chorus shall
be skinny and women in genera
are not ashamed of curves any
more. This will prove helpful i
women, and men also, will not lie
the pendulum swing too far tn,
other way, and allow themselves Il
become overweight, because Their,
is no getting away from the fact
presented in insurance tables.
Insurance companies do not re
fuse applicants for insurance if the,
] can help it. Their business is 4
insure all that they safely" can
The fact that they refuse applicant
with excessive overweight, am
charge higher premium for thos
who are even moderately over
weight is the strongest possibl
$ argument that overweight is nc
y only a menace to health but def
e nitely shortens the life span.
e Jade Symbol of Long Life