920 NUTRITION AND HEAT REGULATION. 



body weight. Those individuals who show little tendency to lay 

 on fat may be made to do so by largely increasing the amount of 

 fat or carbohydrate food, or more certainly by altering the mode 

 of life. A sedentary life, absence of worry, etc., may lead to a 

 tendency of this kind, while a very active muscular life has the 

 opposite effect. Men who lead a very muscular life farmers, 

 fishermen, etc. are rarely disposed to accumulate fat to a notice- 

 able degree. So also the use of alcoholic beverages may indirectly 

 favor accumulation of fat, partly because the oxidation of the 

 alcohol protects the fats and carbohydrates from oxidation, and 

 partly also, perhaps, because long-continued use of alcohol may 

 depress the oxidizing capacity of the tissues. The tendency to 

 form fat may exhibit itself in some cases to such an extent as to con- 

 stitute an almost pathological condition. Obesity, so far as it is 

 not due to some organic lesion, such as a deficiency of the posterior 

 lobe of the hypophysis (p. 883), may be counteracted by altering 

 the mode of life, especially by taking much muscular exercise, and 

 by reducing the diet, so that the total amount of calories repre- 

 sented do not exceed one-half to three-fifths that recognized as the 

 usual average (see p. 940). The diet for such purposes should 

 not only be reduced in amount, but should be as free as possible 

 from excess of fats and carbohydrates, consisting of such material 

 as eggs, fish, lean meat, salads, fruits, etc.* 



* For practical directions concerning the treatment of obesity by dieting 

 see Gautier, " L'alimentation et les regimes," Paris. 



