Graceful as a willow wand, But more divinely proportioned.

- Romance of Youth.

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,

His wife could eat no lean; And so betwixt them both,

They licked the platter clean.

- Mother Goose.

FROM the nature of their diet, it is easy to believe that Jack Sprat of the nursery rhyme was under weight, and that Mrs. Sprat was the exact opposite. While it is undoubtedly true that some persons are naturally inclined to thinness, and others to fatness, it is also equally true that undue excess in either direction can largely be controlled by proper diet.

Causes Of Overweight

Simply stated, excess weight results from an overconsumption of the fuel and energy foods; that is, starches, sugars, and fats. If too much of these foods is consumed, the excess is stored up by nature in the body as adipose tissue or fat. Nature's wise purpose is to be able, in emergency, to draw upon the stored supply, when the tissues are wasted by disease or fever. But an excess of such storage results not only in an awkward burden of avoirdupois, and unpleasing physical proportions, but causes overtaxation of the heart, and becomes dangerous to health.

Curing One's Self

The cause being understood, the method of cure is evident. The first necessity is to face the fact. Be weighed. Consult the table of normal weights, page 441, then use every ounce of will-power possessed to overcome the unpleasant condition. Unless the overweight is due to some disturbance of the secretions of the body, about which a physician should be consulted, unflagging perseverance in cutting down the diet, and in taking exercise will result in reducing the pull on the scales.

Foods To Avoid

Of course the foods to shun are the starch, sugar, and fat foods,

A List Of Foods To Avoid

Appetizers - catsups, pickles, olives, horseradish, etc. Rich foods made with fat or oil bases - cream soups and sauces, oil salad dressings.

Carbonaceous meats - pork and pork products; sausage, scrapple, etc. Such vegetables and cereals as potatoes, hominy, rice, cornmeal mush, oatmeal, parsnips, beets, turnips, and other starchy foods.

Sweets - candies, cakes, puddings, pastry.

Beverages - tea and coffee may be used, but with a minimum of sugar and cream, far better without either. Avoid cocoa and unskimmed milk.