Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-15
At Least IS Million
In Nation Are Too Fat
Condition Is Cutting Life spon
Of VS. Of People Over 30
By Thomos R. Henry

Of Us Of People Over 30
By Thomos R. Henry
ATLANTIC CITY, June 15.-At least
100000 Americans are too fat About
100000 are so seriously overweight that
they need treatment.
Overweights constitute about nth Of
the population over 80, and their con-
dition seriously is cutting their normal
span. The major cause Is simply over
eating, but there may be deeper under.
lying factors.
This was stressed before the American
Medical Association here by DR.. George
M. Wheatley, vice president Of the Met
ropolitan Insurance Co. He reported
on study Of vital statistics by himself
and Drs. Donald B. Armstrong and Louis
Dublin, also Metropolitan vice presi-
dents. For example. the most frequent
cause Of death In America today closely
is associated with high blood pressure.
This is present, the study showed, in 20
per cent of overweight persons compared
with only 9 per cent with slight body
builds In both sexes there Is steady
progress upward Of blood pressure with
weight. Among army officers, a recent
study showed. apprehension was twice as
frequent among those too heavy for their
body framework. 13la
Blood-vessel Changes.
Blood-vessel changes after the age Of
Is showed particularly discouraging
figure. Arteriosclerosis, for example,
was present In 20 per cent Of obese
people and in only 6 per cent Of those
with normal weight. It was especially
disease Of men. As much as 80 per cent
Of diabetes have some degree Of over
weight.
FatneSs, the figures show, almost un-
doubtedly has some association with gall
stones. This is especially malady Of
fat women. Arthritis is much more
common in overweight men. In the
most obese It's incidence is eight times
normal. It is threefold the average for
overweight men as group. There is q
steady rise In mortality from heart and
kidney ailments with increasing weight
until it finally is so per cent higher.
It may be difficult to see connection
between cancer and overweight. yet the
statistics show that after As the death
rate from this condition goes as much as
so per cent higher. Collaborating is
women. Almost any sort Of surgery,
such as for appendicitis or gall bladder.
is far more likely to prove fatal If the
patient carries much excess weight.
Cites Insurance Rates.
For all classes, DR.. Wheatley said, the
death rate of insurance policy holders
who are overweight, but otherwise &C
cepted as flrst-class risks, rises to as
much as 80 per cent above normal for
some classes.
The condition appears most dangerous
IN the younger-age groups
The fault, it was pointed out, lies at
least in part in abundance Of food in
America despite the present high prices.
It is often stressed, however, that the
cause for overeating lies In disbalance
of the endocrine gland secretions or in
emotional disturbances. This Is for Q
physician to determine.
Dr. Wheatley decried the use of drugs
to reduce weight. At the best, he ex-
planned. they can play only minor
and temporary role. The same, he said,
is true Of exercise. 1t is good in itself,
but contributes very little to weight re-
duction unless eating habits are cor
rected.
Rust, ancient bugbear Of the soldier
who spends weary hours cleaning his
rifle, may be completely eliminated by
. process Of moth balling'' being de-
veloped by the Army Ordnance Research
and Development Division. sy-.ss
The chief factor is a chemical known
as volatile corrosion inhibitor." 1t is
a powder which releases thin vapor.
forming an invisible protective shield
around steel or aluminium. This vapor
neutralizes the effect Of moisture and air
on the metal surface.
The inhibitor is applied as a coating on
one side Of packaging paper which is
used as wrapping for the equipment
to be protected. A clean gun is placed
in such wrapper When this wrapper
has been sealed. the vapor inhibitor COM
pletely surrounds the metal, and the
protective film penetrates to the small
est parts.
Some Parts Unreachable.
The method is especially applicable
to weapons not Immediately In use or
stored for future emergency. At pres
ent rifles, machine guns and other
metallic weapons are packed in heavy
grease when they come from the ware
houses. It is almost impossible to coat
every part Of weapon, because some
parts are essentially unreachable. AS q
result they 60 unprotected, and rusting
may start in a short time.
Ordinarily. cleaning rifles with wire
brush requires skilled man "a hours to
prepare q case for use. There is q
possibility that the method may be
further developed for protection Of
weapons stored in barracks from day to
day
Recent tests have shown that even II
the wrapper is punctured and moisture
allowed to enter, the vapor still will
protect the weapon, even with 100 per
cent humidity. This protection lasts
for shorter time, however. than when
the wrapper is completely sealed.
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