BODY-WEIGHT. 211 



than that shown on November 25 and stayed at an approximately con- 

 stant level for two weeks. The minimum weight, 54 kg., was reached 

 on December 20. During the 18 days of absence from college in the 

 Christmas vacation, there was an increment of 3 kg., but the weight 

 was brought down with reasonable rapidity by the subsequent curtail- 

 ment of diet, and probably considerable exercise. Bro was then given 

 a larger number of calories to hold him at the minimum weight-level 

 observed during December. These calories apparently held the weight 

 fairly constant, as there was a fluctuation of but 1 kg. in the last two 

 weeks. The post-diet increase was immediate and enormous, for from 

 the weight of 54.4 kg. on February 3 there was a sharp rise of 8 kg. in 

 11 days, which not only compensated for the entire loss during the 

 experiment, but caused an increase of nearly 1 kg. over the initial 

 weight. Thereafter, until the end of the observations on March 14 (a 

 period of one month), the weight varied approximately 0.5 kg. from 

 this higher level, with a distinct tendency for the body-weight to be 

 somewhat higher than it was before the experiment. 



Although this will be a subject for subsequent special discussion, 

 attention should be called to the variation in the net calories^ ingested, 

 as indicated by the blocks on these curves. In the three days prior to 

 the dietetic restriction, the net energy intake averaged 3,050 calories. 

 There was then considerable curtailment, the calories falUng at one 

 time to nearly half the initial value. Approximately 1,950 calories 

 were required to maintain this man at the lower weight level. No 

 data are available regarding the calories ingested during the post- 

 diet period. 



Body-weight curve of Can (Fig. 58). 



Can was the heaviest man in Squad A, his initial weight being 79.75 

 kg. Following the curtailment in diet there was a very marked and 

 rapid loss in weight and, as is indicated by the increases in the net 

 calories supplied, it became necessary to raise the energy intake 

 perceptibly to hold the weight at the lower level. The first rise in 

 the descending curve occurs shortly after the uncontrolled meal on 

 November 11, but a decided rise of somewhat over a kilogram occurred 

 after November 25, as was found with several other members of Squad 

 A. This was followed by a somewhat rapid fall, the minimum weights 

 being observed on December 15 and 20. This period of minimum 

 weight-level was accompanied by a net calorie ingestion of approxi- 

 mately 2,475 calories. 



During the Christmas vacation, as the broken line shows, there was 

 an increase of somewhat over 4 kg. in weight. This was in part lost 

 on the return to college, but as this subject had actually lost more 

 than 10 per cent of his initial weight and seemed somewhat troubled 

 by the fact, the caloric intake was adjusted to hold the body-weight 



^ See p. 271. 



