ntly 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

Meals should be light and frequent, rather than hearty and infrequent. A
little fruit may be taken on rising and a glass of hot water.

A light breakfast is advisable; one or two poached eggs, no sugar, bread
and butter in small quantity.

For dinner, choice may be made of chicken, game, lean meat, fish not
cooked in fat, in moderate portions, and of such vegetables as celery,
spinach, sea-kale, lettuce, string beans, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes,
cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, bulky vegetables of low food value.
Tapioca or similar pudding may be used for desserts, and melon, and
other cooked unsweetened fruits.

A glass of hot water on retiring is advisable.

It is surprising what an enormous fuel value certain foods have which
are eaten very carelessly, and what a very low fuel value others have
which are quite satisfying to hunger. For example: One would have to eat
$9.00 worth of lettuce and tomato salad to furnish 2,500 calories, the
amount of fuel for the day's requirements (Lusk), while about 30 cents'
worth of butter, or 10 cents' worth of sugar would furnish the same
amount of energy. No one would think of feeding exclusively on any one
of these foods, but it is easy to see how the elimination of butter and
sugar and the introduction of such foods as lettuce, tomatoes, celery,
carrots, spinach and fruits, all of which have a low fuel value, would
enormously reduce the available energy and therefore the fat-forming
elements in the diet, yet fill the stomach and satisfy the
hunger-craving. Hunger is largely dependent upon the contractions of the
empty stomach and not upon a general bodily craving for food.

[Sidenote: Fat Forming Foods That Should, as a Rule, be Avoided by
Overweights]

Foods to avoid, in cases of overweight, are sugar, fats, milk as a
beverage, salmon, lobster, crabs, sardines, herring, mackerel, pork and
goose, fat meats, nuts, butter, cream, olive oil, pastry and sweets,
water at meals. Alcohol, which is not a fo