Evening star., 1941-02-15
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory. Field
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henry.

BY IhOnluS X. henry.
There is fat child" family complex.
Obese children are most likely to be
found in households with meek father
and an oversolicitous mother who really
dislikes her offspring and stuffs them
to salve her own conscience.
Such are the conclusions of Drs. Hide
| Bruch and Grace Touraine of Columbia
University in report just published by
the National Research Council on an
investigation of 40 homes in which ab-
normally fat youngsters were found.
Given such an environment, they say,
a boy or girl with the physiological po-
tentiality of stuffing and piling on flesh
will do so, whereas in more normal
home the tendency probably would be
restrained.
Many of the fathers, they recount,
were found to be weak and submissive
persons unable to give positive and manly
| guidance. In the mothers an overt
display OF solicitude and protection bare
| ly covered an underlying aggresSiveneSS
and hostility. In such an environment
which does not offer adequate emotional
security, food gains an inordinate i'm
portance. 1t is offered and received not
alone for the appeasement of bodily
need, but because it is highly charged
with emotional value.
To many mothers the Offering of food
represents the only way of expressing
their affection and devotion. The child
increases its demand as need for gratifi-
cation and security in other respects re-
mains unsatisfied. On the other hand,
enjoyment of physical activities and So
cial relation is greatly restricted The
atmosphere of fearful apprehension con-
fers upon them the meaning of danger,
threat and insecurity.
The development of obesity in such
surroundings becomes comprehensive.
Overeating and inactivity bring about
an increasing storage of fat Striking
resemblance to the features revealed in
the background of obese children was
also found in the family constellation in
essential alcoholism The passion for
food displayed by some obese people has
been likened to drunkards addiction
to alcohol
The 40 homes investigated, they report,
were all on the lower economic level, but
were in surprisingly good condition, al
though the grocery bills were dispropor-
tionately high compared to other ex-
penses. In nearly all cases the husband
was dominated by the wife and showed
little drive or aggresSiveneSs.
The mothers, on the other hand, had
iii M IN,
security in their own childhoods and
had been thrown upon their own re-
sources early in life. They had reacted
to this experience with self-pity and re-
sentiment. Family fights were frequent.
With few exceptions. the investigators
found, the mothers were domineering
in the life Of the families. In most cases
there was only one child.
There was a marked ambvalence,"
the report says. 'in the attitude OF the
mothers toward the fat children. A
fundamental rejection was compensated
for by overfeeding and excessive protec-
ton. Hostility of the mothers expressed
itself in unreasonable and cruel disci-
pline. The obesity of the children was
rarely matter of concern to the par
ents, in contrast to the exaggerated con-
Germ over acute physical disorders.
IN these surroundings food had
gained an exaggerated importance. It
stood for love, security and satisfaction
and represented in all instances an
important tie in the relationship be-
tween the parents and the children.
The parents hesitated to withhold food
in order not to upset a precarious bal
ance'
It is not maintained, the report points
out, that home environment alone can
produce fatness Certain preliminary re-
Quirements, both In the environment and
the individual must be fulfilled.
The innate structural properties of
the organism" they say, may be
likened to the measurable physical char
acteristics of resting string. The en-
vironment and its emotional significance
can be compared to the waves without
which sound is not produced. In Or
der to become effective the sound waves
must have a definite frequency which
corresponds to the physical properties
of the string
|
However poor the family, the investi-
gators found, in no case was there ever
@ complaint about the cost of food, but
| the parents were bitter over the cost of
clothing or toys for the children. They
all preferred bulky foods and resented
any suggestion of buying cheaper foods
in smaller quantities which would be
better for their offspring In many
| cases the youngsters were found made
quately clad so that they could not play
or 60 to parties with other children,
They had no toys and their own efforts
to make toys were resented. The
mothers often spent all their time pre-
| pairing meals and boasted about the
| abundance of food they provided, even
If grocery bills were long unpaid, The
children were driven to eating by the
pure monotony of life.
| Complains About Pictures