Evening star., 1951-05-02
The Fat, While Happy,
Warned of Short Life
Is to 30% Of U. S. Adults
Are Obese, Studies Show
By Thomos R. Henry
lie Sam Is getting too fat.

Uncle Sam Is getting too fat.
The lean, lanky fellow portrayed as
symbolic of America is acquiring .
middle-age obesity which probably bodies
no good.
This is the warning Of Dr. James r.
Eundley, chief of the Public Health
Services Laboratory of Nutrition.
1t seems partly a case of mot being
able to stand prosperity he says.
Recent statistics have indicated that
rs to 80 per cent Of American adults are
obese. The percentage may reach as high
as so per cent in women Of the S0-to-7O
age group. A recent study Of 10000 per.
sons being examined for life insurance
showed that 80 per cent Of the women
and rs per cent of the men were over
weight by at least 10 per cent. Forty
per cent Of the men and 20 per cent Of
the women attending conference Of the
American Public Health Association last
year were found to be 10 per cent or
more above their optimal weight.
DR.. Hundley bases his warning on
such figures as these. The fat man Is
Usually pictured, he points out, as q
gocd-natured. happy-go-lucky figure.
Enjoys Life-But Not Long.
Perhaps it is good that he does enjoy
life" he said in recent talk, "for statis-
tics indicate that he isn't going to live
lcng to do it.
Have you ever reflected" he con-
tinued. ION the very few persons past
so in your circle of personal acquaint-
ance who are grossly obese compared to
the 40-to-60 age group? One might
say that obesity disappears with age.
It is more probable that obese indi-
viduals disappear with age.
"The death rate from all causes is
increased % per cent for individuals
to IA per cent overweight, a per cent
for those Is to "a per cent overweight.
and "a per cent for those rs per cent or
more overweight"
Death among the fat from heart
high blood pressure conditions, leading
cause of mortality in the United States
today. is increased 81 per cent, from.
diabetes 157 per cent. and even from
cancer IL per cent.
Il have heard it said" DR.. Hundley
continued, "that for every inch the
abdominal circumference exceeds the
chest measurement five years can be
subtracted from the individuals life ex-
pectancy."
Food never really has been restricted
for most persons in the United States.
he points out. In Europe during the
war, especially in England, there were
very drastic restrictions. General health
improved quite considerably.
There is no actual evidence that heart,
kidney and blood pressure diseases are
in any way caused by fatness, yet the
fact that they occur together is hard
to explain away.
Overeating Single Cause.
Superficially there is only one cause
of fatness-overeating. The remedy
eat so much.
But. DR.. Hundley said, "this Is an
oversimpliflca because we know that
the factors which lead to overeating are
quite complex. Eating with many indi-
viduals is much more than just ac-
quiring enough food to allay hunger.
Some persons, in times Of mental ten
sion or when bored, eat when you and
/ might reach for cigarette. Several
studies have shown that children often
overeat because of psychological COM
plications. Other studies have uncovered
information that the actual origin Of
obesity may be in childhood. It isn't
easy to educate people to change their
food habits.
Clubs have been formed in several
parts of the United States which are
comparable to Alcoholics Anonymous.
They are groups of individuals who
try to help each other in following a
weight reduction program. Some Of
the groups call themselves Fatties
Anonymous.
THE basis of any method must be
a reduction in food consumption. and
will power is the only really effective
medicine. It is fundamental that the
obese must realize there is no magic
way to reduce weight"