
OVERWEIGHT AND UNDERWEIGHT
What Is Desirable Weight?
OVERWEIGHT AND ITS DANGERS
HELPFUL HINTS
UNDERWEIGHT AND ITS DANGERS
CALORIE TABLES
FOOTNOTES
Transcriber’s Notes
This compact guide invites listeners to rethink what “ideal weight” really means for each individual. It explains how height, bone structure, and muscle development shape a personal target, and provides easy‑to‑read tables that translate those factors into practical weight ranges for men and women over twenty‑five. The tone is reassuring, stressing that a stable, comfortable weight can improve everyday comfort and longevity.
The book then turns to the health side of the equation, outlining why carrying fifteen pounds—or more—above one’s ideal can become a warning sign, especially after the third decade of life. Readers learn which conditions are linked to excess weight, such as diabetes, heart disease, and complications during pregnancy, and why these risks grow with age. Clear, data‑driven insights help demystify the connection between weight and overall well‑being.
Finally, the author explores why many people find it hard to stay within their ideal range. By uncovering common habits, metabolic shifts, and the myth of genetics as a sole cause, the narrative offers realistic strategies for adjusting eating patterns and activity levels. Listeners come away with a solid understanding of how small, sustainable changes can make a big difference in health and daily life.
Language
en
Duration
~39 minutes (38K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1953.
Credits
Stephen Hutcheson, Lisa Corcoran and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-09-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

Born as a small New York insurer in the 1860s, this company grew into one of the best-known names in American life insurance. Its story includes early industrial insurance, major expansion in the 20th century, and the modern MetLife brand recognized around the world.
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