Can I jump in here?  I don't know when refined white flour was in use, but
it had to be after Henry VIII?  Perhaps I'm mistaken.  However, if I'm not,
he certainly is a case in point that obesity is not always related to flour
and sugar intake.  Sometimes, obesity is simply a matter of lifestyle, i.e.
eating too much food and not getting enough exercise.  I'm no expert on
Henry VIII, so I don't know if he attempted to combat his obesity, but even
the bible mentions gluttony as being a sin.  Gluttony will certainly produce
obesity.

-----Original Message-----
From: Paleolithic Eating Support List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Sheryl Canter
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 9:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: amusing historical anecdote


In a message dated 11/8/2001 11:35:56 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> Eating the white flour seems to make the difference.
> And sugar, probably.
>
> Whithout this, I can't remember of any fat persons in history.
>

The Venus statues (e.g. Venus of Willendorf,
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/willendorf/willendorfgoddess.html) are from the
Paleolithic period, and show anatomically correct obese females. They are
thought to be fertility symbols.  There had to have been fat females in
Paleolithic times for these statues to have been created.

     - Sheryl