216 NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGY 



to his environment and he must presumably consume more 

 food to secure an equilibrium. It is, therefore, much 

 harder to begin the deposit than to nurture it when it 

 exists. A fat man is like a house with double windows 

 the arrangement will save coal. 



Reduction of adipose tissue by fasting is possible, but 

 not popular. Several other methods have been tried. 

 The Banting system, formerly much in vogue, consisted 

 essentially in a diet containing a maximum of protein. 

 It was held that such a diet would keep the muscles and 

 glands from losing substance, while not promoting the 

 formation of fat. We have, seen, however, that fat forma- 

 tion from protein is at least theoretically possible. The 

 success of the Banting treatment probably depended upon 

 two factors: first, foods rich in protein are satiating, and 

 an unconscious cutting down of income is therefore likely; 

 second, the specific dynamic effect of so much protein 

 would be expected to increase the metabolism. Restric- 

 tion of water drinking is often recommended. Laxatives 

 are sometimes used, presumably to hinder absorption. 

 A procedure which seems rational is the selection of a 

 rather bulky but not highly nutritious diet, including fruit 

 and the coarser vegetables. By this means hunger can be 

 fairly appeased, while the actual quantity of food entering 

 the circulation is not sufficient to maintain carbon equi- 

 librium. 



