A Brief History of Dieting
A Mildly Sarcastic Look at Dieting
Once upon a time some Greek, and later European, philosophers noted the
physical benefits of moderation in the consumption of food. Their discovery
led them to develop some pretty philosophies on the topic, but that is all.
In the 1830s ordained Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham continued in
this vein, and became an outspoken proponent for a vegetarian diet as the
cure for all physical and moral ills. He had many followers (called the
'Grahamites') but made many enemies, particularly the bakers and milk
producers of his day. The former group was unhappy about the public
complaints he made against their use of less nutritious refined flour
in their bread. The latter group was upset by the awareness he created
of the questionable ingredients secretly added to milk products.
Although he had some strange ideas, we owe to him the creation of
the graham cracker which makes a delicious, healthy snack. Thank you, Sylvester.
In 1862 William Banting, a hearty English chap too obese to bend down
and touch his toes, became the first author to write a diet bestseller
after his weight-loss success with a high-protein, high-fat diet.
Congratulations Willy.
Around this time, many people in the upper classes found the soot and grime
of the Industrial Revolution was made more palatable by the wealth and
affluence they produced. Prior to this time, and for most of human history,
people's only food-related concern was having enough to eat. But no sooner
were their cupboards full, than they began, most fervently, to avoid eating
what was in the cupboard.
It was once considered fashionable to flaunt your wealth with a pudgy figure,
but by the late 1800s flab fell out of vogue. It is around this time that we
find the first cases of anorexia, but only among the wealthy.
Ever since then, many people have had many things to say about the ideal diet.
Some suggest cutting out carbs, some emphasize protein, some advise minimizing
portions, some recommend counting calories...
Now dieting is an industry, and a multi-billion dollar one at that. This makes
those who benefit from the industry very rich while the rest of us are set
adrift in a sea of contradicting advice, unhappy and no better off than before.
The End.
