Weight Loss and Dieting in America, 1933-1970
- United States , 1970
United States, 1970. Very good. Some toning, minor dust soiling, the occasional small nick or short tear. A couple water stains.. A collection of ten (10) items relating to weight loss and dieting in America between 1933 and 1970. Each of the items focuses intensely on weight loss to improve body image, with an emphasis on dieting methods such as calorie counting/restriction and "low-carb" dieting. Often the booklets use rhetoric of restriction or fight to motivate its readers (e.g. "Fight flabbiness!"), charging the ideas of eating and body image with struggle. Recipes and meal plans included. Most advertise some kind of product or weight loss program for sale and are pocket-sized. None of the "ideal weight" charts seem to match. An excellent example of America's tendency to intermingle body image and weight-- and find a way to monetize it.
The items include:
"A Safe Reducing Diet". Racine: Horlick's Malted Milk Corp., 1933. Single vol. (6" by 3.5"), pp. 29, [1], stapled in original illus. wrps. Advertises Horlick's Malted Milk, includes ideal weight charts, meal plans, exercises. Chart of how many calories different activities burn (e.g. 160 calories for bookbinding, 250-300 for housework).
"Diet and Calorie Guide from the Makers of Hollywood Bread". N.pl.: Hollywood Bread, c.1950. Single vol. (5.5" by 4.25"), pp. 16, original illus. self wrps. Advertises diet bread with images of famous Hollywood starlets/sex symbols. Includes ideal weight charts, meal plans, exercises.
"Calorie Counter and Control Guide". New York: Bonomo Culture Institute, 1952. Single vol. (5" by 3.25"), pp. 64, illus., stapled in original blue wrps. Endorsed by Joe Bonomo, American weightlifter. Ideal weight charts for men and women, calorie counts for different foods.
"Diet Handbook". Duluth: Cullum Publications, 1954. Single vol. (7.75" by 5.5"), pp. 64, illus., stapled in original printed wrps. Summer 1954 issue. Contains ideal weight charts, recipes, specific sections for men and women.
"Diet Menus". New York: Basic Health, 1956. Single vol. (4" by 2.75"), pp. 48, stapled in original printed green and black wrps. Menu and calorie counts, for women.
"Do You Really Want to Lose Weight?" Johnstown: Knox Gelatine, Inc., 1962. Single vol. (6.5" by 4.75"), pp. 52, illus., stapled in original illus. wrps. Advertises Knox gelatine, includes meal plans, recipes.
"Figuratively Speaking..." Johnstown: Knox Gelatine, Inc., c.1963. Folding pamphlet, illus., measuring 6" by 3" folded. Exercises, recipes, advertises Knox Gelatine.
"Calorie Counting Made Easy". Batavia: Campana Corp., c.1965. Single vol. (5.25" by 3"), pp. 32, stapled in original illus. blue wrps. Includes ideal weight chart, calorie counts for different foods, advertises smoking deterrent tablets and Ayds weight loss candies.
"New Improved Lo-Carbo Dieter Counts Carbohydrates Magically". Atlanta: Webster, 1966. Single vol. (4.25" by 3.25"), pp. 48, in original white comb binding, rounded corners. Includes carb counts for different foods, blank chart for "my favorite low carb foods".
Stillman, Irwin, and Samm Sinclair Baker. "The Doctor's Quick Inches-Off Diet". New York: Dell, 1970. Single vol. (5.25" by 3.5"), pp. 58, [6], stapled in original illus. wrps. with measuring tape image on front. Meal planning, calorie counting, ideal weight chart. Interesting to see what notions have, and have not, survived today about weight loss and healthfulness (e.g. the idea of "Ideal Weights" for men and women).
The items include:
"A Safe Reducing Diet". Racine: Horlick's Malted Milk Corp., 1933. Single vol. (6" by 3.5"), pp. 29, [1], stapled in original illus. wrps. Advertises Horlick's Malted Milk, includes ideal weight charts, meal plans, exercises. Chart of how many calories different activities burn (e.g. 160 calories for bookbinding, 250-300 for housework).
"Diet and Calorie Guide from the Makers of Hollywood Bread". N.pl.: Hollywood Bread, c.1950. Single vol. (5.5" by 4.25"), pp. 16, original illus. self wrps. Advertises diet bread with images of famous Hollywood starlets/sex symbols. Includes ideal weight charts, meal plans, exercises.
"Calorie Counter and Control Guide". New York: Bonomo Culture Institute, 1952. Single vol. (5" by 3.25"), pp. 64, illus., stapled in original blue wrps. Endorsed by Joe Bonomo, American weightlifter. Ideal weight charts for men and women, calorie counts for different foods.
"Diet Handbook". Duluth: Cullum Publications, 1954. Single vol. (7.75" by 5.5"), pp. 64, illus., stapled in original printed wrps. Summer 1954 issue. Contains ideal weight charts, recipes, specific sections for men and women.
"Diet Menus". New York: Basic Health, 1956. Single vol. (4" by 2.75"), pp. 48, stapled in original printed green and black wrps. Menu and calorie counts, for women.
"Do You Really Want to Lose Weight?" Johnstown: Knox Gelatine, Inc., 1962. Single vol. (6.5" by 4.75"), pp. 52, illus., stapled in original illus. wrps. Advertises Knox gelatine, includes meal plans, recipes.
"Figuratively Speaking..." Johnstown: Knox Gelatine, Inc., c.1963. Folding pamphlet, illus., measuring 6" by 3" folded. Exercises, recipes, advertises Knox Gelatine.
"Calorie Counting Made Easy". Batavia: Campana Corp., c.1965. Single vol. (5.25" by 3"), pp. 32, stapled in original illus. blue wrps. Includes ideal weight chart, calorie counts for different foods, advertises smoking deterrent tablets and Ayds weight loss candies.
"New Improved Lo-Carbo Dieter Counts Carbohydrates Magically". Atlanta: Webster, 1966. Single vol. (4.25" by 3.25"), pp. 48, in original white comb binding, rounded corners. Includes carb counts for different foods, blank chart for "my favorite low carb foods".
Stillman, Irwin, and Samm Sinclair Baker. "The Doctor's Quick Inches-Off Diet". New York: Dell, 1970. Single vol. (5.25" by 3.5"), pp. 58, [6], stapled in original illus. wrps. with measuring tape image on front. Meal planning, calorie counting, ideal weight chart. Interesting to see what notions have, and have not, survived today about weight loss and healthfulness (e.g. the idea of "Ideal Weights" for men and women).