Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public – William Banting

Think low-carb diets are a modern fad? Not at all. Back in 1863, William Banting published Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public, promoting weight loss by avoiding high-glycemic foods. It wasn’t exactly low-carb as we define it today, but it came pretty close, advocating for:

• Cutting out most sugars and starches.
• Prioritizing protein from animal sources.
• Limiting certain fruits and vegetables.

“My impression is, that any starchy or saccharine matter tends to the disease of corpulence in advanced life, and whether it be swallowed in that form, or generated in the stomach, that all things tending to these elements should be avoided, of course always under sound medical authority.”

The publication was a big success, and for a time, “banting” became synonymous with dieting. It’s a short, easy read and freely available online. You won’t find groundbreaking revelations in it, but it reinforces the old adage that we often need reminding more than we need instructing. Some might be put off by the archaic verbiage, but personally, I love stumbling upon words like corpulence (fat), pinguitude (also fat), and desiderata (something desired). They allow me to throw out pompously grandiose lines worthy of a comically arrogant British TV character:

“I’ll be damned if I allow this malfunctioning scale’s accusation of my pinguitude to intrude upon my most cherished desiderata!”

Harumph!

As a final note, debate still rages on why diets like this work. Some argue that any restrictive diet naturally cuts calories, leading to weight loss. Others believe the type of food affects hunger and digestion, making weight regulation easier. From a longevity standpoint I doubt it matters as long as it helps you keep the pounds off.