Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, September 26, 1891Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, September 26, 1891
Various
Science -- Periodicals
Special alimentary regimen, however, does not constitute the sole
treatment of obesity. Concurrently must be employed a number of
practical adjuvants which are oftentimes of the utmost assistance. For
one thing, exercise is indispensable; all authorities agree on this
point. The exercise taken in the gymnasium is one of the best, notably
the "wall exercise," which is more particularly suited to those
afflicted with pendulous and protuberant abdomens as the result of
feebleness of the hypogastric muscles, to accumulation of fat under the
skin and in the omentum, and to dilation of the stomach and intestines.
In the "wall exercise," the patient stands erect against an absolutely
straight and plumb wall, lifts his hands (carrying a weight) straight
over the head, and causes them to describe a semicircle forward. Zantz
particularly insists upon arm and leg exercise for the obese, especially
the former, since with the same amount of effort a larger amount of
oxygen is consumed than is possible by the latter.
However, of whatever character, the exercise should be continued to the
point of fatigue or dyspnoea--three thousand movements daily,
gradually increased to twenty-five thousand, if the system can bear it;
and under such conditions, not only is there consumption of
hydrocarbons, but there is provided a veritable greed for air that
augments waste. The experiments of Oertel indicate that loss of weight
due to fatiguing exercise arises more particularly from dehydration,
which is made good by absorption of the fluids employed as beverage; the
fluids are claimed by Germain See to act as accelerants of oxidation.
During exercise there is obviously more abundant absorption of oxygen,
and consequently greater elimination of carbonic acid, and as a
consequence (as shown by researches of Voit), the reserve fat of the
economy is attacked and diminished; in intense labor there is an average
hourly consumption of about 8.2 percent. of fat. Further physical
activity is useful in exercising the voluntary muscles, and thus
opposing the invasion by interstitial fat of the muscle fibrils. Extreme
exercise also, to a certain degree, exerts a favorable influence on the
cardiac muscle, augmenting both its nutrition and its capacity for
labor. With the anæmic obese, however, it is necessary to be most
circumspect in prescribing forced exercise; also with the elderly obese
possessed of enfeebled or fatty heart.
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