William Banting

Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public (eBook, PDF)

With a Review of the Work From Blackwood's Magazine, and an Article on Corpulency Leanness From Harper's Weekly

• Format: PDF

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Forgotten Books
• Erscheinungstermin: 19. Oktober 2017
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780243768981
• Artikelnr.: 58961524

Autorenporträt

William Banting (c.1796–1878) was a notable English undertaker who gained fame for his dietary approach to combating obesity. His prominence in dietetics stemmed from the personal success outlined in his 1863 publication, 'Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public,' which is often considered one of the earliest dieting books in the Western world. In it, Banting describes the dietary regimen that led to his significant weight loss, advocating for reduced intake of sugar, starch, beer, and milk while emphasizing the importance of protein and some vegetables. Banting's account was pioneering for its time, preceding the low-carbohydrate diets that would become prominent over a century later. His last name even entered the English language as a verb, 'to bant,' meaning to diet. While not a medical professional, Banting's empirical approach documented an effective method for weight loss, making his book pivotal as a historical precursor to the modern understanding of diet and nutrition. The simplicity and accessibility of his writing allowed his work to resonate with the Victorian audience, thus securing his place in the literary and health fields as an early influencer of public opinion on dietary matters.