Why weren't the Victorians fat? page 2

[valmason01]

Funny how the article never mentions that bone marrow was hugely popular at that time, especially among the upper class. And among the lower class sweetbreads and brains were commonly eaten. Maybe, you know, that has something to do with it.

Now that is interesting. Though the idea of brains really is very yucky. Yes I know its cultural but there ya go.

[sbhikes]

They weren't fat?
The Stout Woman

[Lewis]

What's this? Some fairground attraction, or something?

Kind of makes the point, doesn't it? Set up a booth and ask people to come and see the fat lady these days and you get no takers. Peoplr have only got to go to the shopping mall.

[bloodorchid]

you mean the stout woman link?

it was a clothes shop.

[paleo-bunny]

Lack of cars, automation and cheap fuel, obviously.

[sbhikes]

That stout woman link was a history of ladies undergarments, specifically girdles, corsets and stuff like that.

[Owly]

I think fatness is nothing new. I think the increased number of people who are very overfat is, and I think the earlier age at which more and more people are experiencing weight issues is a newer development, but well-to-do people have had issues with weight throughout most of history. The plump matron is a Victorian stereotype for a reason, as is the rich fat man. Overabundance of particular sorts of foods without the need to do physical work does have an effect. Other factors also play a role in modern health problems, but fatness is not new, just increasingly common.

[bloodorchid]

owly, everybody knows no one was fat until 10 years ago

[Owly]

Oh right, the obesity epidemic. Better watch out, the fatz is contagious! It's worse than zombies. Everyone knows eating brains won't make you fat.

[bloodorchid]

i catched it