How to Live: Rules for Healthful Living Based on Modern Science

by Irving Fisher; Eugene Lyman Fisk

Experience of 43 American Companies—1885–1908.[K]
Number of Policyholders 186,579

Ages at Entry	Overweight, 5 to 10 lbs.		Overweight, 15 to 20 lbs.		Overweight, 25 to 45 lbs.		Overweight, 50 to 80 lbs.
	Death Rate Below Stand- ard.[L]	Death Rate Above Stand- ard.	Death Rate Below Stand- ard.	Death Rate Above Stand- ard.	Death Rate Below Stand- ard.	Death Rate Above Stand- ard.	Death Rate Below Stand- ard.	Death Rate Above Stand- ard.
20–24	4%	...	4%	...	...	1%	...	3%
25–29	7%	...	10%	...	...	12%	...	17%
30–34	1%	...	14%	...	...	19%	...	34%
35–39	0%	...	...	1%	...	31%	...	55%
40–44	6%	...	...	10%	...	40%	...	75%
45–49	...	3%	...	9%	...	31%	...	51%
50–56	...	2%	...	21%	...	24%	...	49%
57–62	...	2%	...	25%	...	12%	...	38%

The heaviest mortality (75 per cent. above the standard), is found among those aged 40 to 44 who are 50 to 80 pounds overweight.

[K] Medico-Actuarial Mortality Investigation, Volume II, page 13, compiled and published by The Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors and The Actuarial Society of America.

[L] The standard death rate is that experienced by average insurance risks of the same age, according to the Medico-Actuarial Committee.

It seems reasonable to deduce from these figures that the usual gain in weight with advancing years is not an advantage but a handicap. We should endeavor to keep our weight at approximately the average weight for age 30, the period of full maturity, as experience shows that those so proportioned exhibit the most favorable mortality. This weight, for the various heights, is shown in the following table:

Age 30—Men

Height.		Pounds.	Height.		Pounds.	Height.		Pounds.
Ft.	In.		Ft.	In.		Ft.	In.
5		126	5	7	148	6	1	178
5	1	128	5	8	152	6	2	184
5	2	130	5	9	156	6	3	190
5	3	133	5	10	161	6	4	196
5	4	136	5	11	166	6	5	201
5	5	140	6		172	..........		.........
5	6	144	.......		......	..........		.........

Age 30—Women

Height.		Pounds.	Height.		Pounds.	Height.		Pounds.
Ft.	In.		Ft.	In.		Ft.	In.
4	8	112	5	2	124	5	8	146
4	9	114	5	4	127	5	9	150
4	10	116	5	4	131	5	10	154
4	11	118	5	5	134	5	11	157
5		120	5	6	138	6		161
5	1	122	5	7	142	..........		.........

In fat people, the number of working cells is relatively less in proportion to the weight than in thin people, as fat cells do not work. Also, there is less body surface exposed in proportion to the body weight, and consequently less heat loss. Likewise, fat people are less active, and their little cell-engines do not call for so much fuel; but in most cases the fuel is furnished right along in the ordinary diet, and what is not burned up is stored up.

Diet for Overweight

For extreme overweight, diet should be prescribed accurately by the physician to suit the needs of each individual case. Certain general principles may be stated, however, as applicable to the average case.