Life is much easier in many ways for people who are not too fat or too thin. They usually feel and look better. They are apt to live longer. They are less likely to suffer from backaches, foot troubles, constant fatigue, and a host of daily discomforts. They have more fun buying clothes. Normal weight is worth any effort it takes to reach and keep—worth it in terms of everyday comfort and of a healthier, longer life.
| DESIRABLE WEIGHTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF AGES 25 AND OVER[1] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight in Pounds According to Frame (as Ordinarily Dressed) | |||||
| men | HEIGHT (with shoes on) | SMALL FRAME | MEDIUM FRAME | LARGE FRAME | |
| Feet | Inches | ||||
| 5 | 2 | 116-125 | 124-133 | 131-142 | |
| 5 | 3 | 119-128 | 127-136 | 133-144 | |
| 5 | 4 | 122-132 | 130-140 | 137-149 | |
| 5 | 5 | 126-136 | 134-144 | 141-153 | |
| 5 | 6 | 129-139 | 137-147 | 145-157 | |
| 5 | 7 | 133-143 | 141-151 | 149-162 | |
| 5 | 8 | 136-147 | 145-156 | 153-166 | |
| 5 | 9 | 140-151 | 149-160 | 157-170 | |
| 5 | 10 | 144-155 | 153-164 | 161-175 | |
| 5 | 11 | 148-159 | 157-168 | 165-180 | |
| 6 | 0 | 152-164 | 161-173 | 169-185 | |
| 6 | 1 | 157-169 | 166-178 | 174-190 | |
| 6 | 2 | 163-175 | 171-184 | 179-196 | |
| 6 | 3 | 168-180 | 176-189 | 184-202 | |
| women | HEIGHT (with shoes on) | SMALL FRAME | MEDIUM FRAME | LARGE FRAME | |
| Feet | Inches | ||||
| 4 | 11 | 104-111 | 110-118 | 117-127 | |
| 5 | 0 | 105-113 | 112-120 | 119-129 | |
| 5 | 1 | 107-115 | 114-122 | 121-131 | |
| 5 | 2 | 110-118 | 117-125 | 124-135 | |
| 5 | 3 | 113-121 | 120-128 | 127-138 | |
| 5 | 4 | 116-125 | 124-132 | 131-142 | |
| 5 | 5 | 119-128 | 127-135 | 133-145 | |
| 5 | 6 | 123-132 | 130-140 | 138-150 | |
| 5 | 7 | 126-136 | 134-144 | 142-154 | |
| 5 | 8 | 129-139 | 137-147 | 145-158 | |
| 5 | 9 | 133-143 | 141-151 | 149-162 | |
| 5 | 10 | 136-147 | 145-155 | 152-166 | |
| 5 | 11 | 139-150 | 148-158 | 155-169 | |
OVERWEIGHT AND ITS DANGERS
Anyone who is 15 or more pounds heavier than his desirable weight is considered overweight. For those still in their 20’s or younger a little extra weight does no harm. For people over 30 it is not good.
Overweight is a danger signal, particularly for those over 40. Studies of life insurance figures show that overweight people develop diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other life-shortening conditions earlier, and are apt to die younger, than people whose weight is normal. They are poor surgical risks and have less resistance to infection. Stout women are more likely to develop complications in pregnancy.
What Makes a Person Fat?
Most people are fat simply because they eat too much. This does not necessarily mean that they stuff themselves with large quantities of food. It does mean that they take in more calories[2] than their bodies can use. This is often surprisingly easy to do, particularly for a person who has poor eating habits.
Some people blame their overweight on metabolism (the rate at which their bodies use energy) and on the glands which regulate metabolism. In a very few cases, poorly functioning glands may contribute to overweight. Even then, the overweight patient who is under a physician’s treatment for glandular disorders is able to lose weight when his food intake is regulated.
What many people do not realize, however, is that the body’s energy requirements usually change after age 30 or 40. As a person gets older, metabolism slows down, and fewer calories are needed to maintain weight. The trouble is that eating habits usually stay exactly the same, while physical activity often decreases.
Heredity is often claimed as a cause of overweight. Careful studies do not bear this out. Heredity does determine the type of body build a person has, but when people from overweight families change their eating habits it has been proved that they, too, can lose weight.