Appendix 1

Health & Medical statements found in The Ministry of Healing (M. of H.), 1905 Spiritual Gifts Volume 4 (S. G.), 1864

M. of H. page 235 – “Intemperate eating is often the cause of sickness,” Page 323 – “Never abuse the stomach by overeating,”

S. G. page 133 – “Indulging in eating too frequently, and in too large quantities”

Page 130 – “Many are so devoted to intemperance that they will not change their course of indulging in gluttony under any considerations. They would sooner sacrifice health, and die prematurely, than to restrain their intemperate appetite.”

Comments – Obesity is a cause of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Also there is an association with high calorie intake and the rate of physical and mental aging. The World Health Organisation considers obesity contributes 7.4% in the loss of health in developed.

In the Victorian Burden of Disease Study obesity accounted for 4.7% of the loss of active healthy years of life. In 1960 the association between obesity and ill health was just beginning to be understood.

Score – Significant (1960 – Minor)

Why 44 - Over Eating 1 (What 46)

M. of H. page 240 – “Some grow corpulent because the system is clogged;”

Comments – Overeating causes obesity from excess calories. There is now no meaning to “clog the system”.

Score – Verified

Why 45 - Over Eating 2 (What 46)

M. of H. – page 240 – “others become thin and feeble because their vital powers are exhausted in disposing of an excess of food. The liver is burdened in its effort to cleanse the blood of impurities, and illness is the result”

Comments - Overeating and under exercise result in being overweight. The liver can cope with all that we eat unless it is damaged.

Score – Unverified

Why 46 - Over Eating 3 (What 46)

M. of H. page 307 – “The surplus food burdens the system and produces morbid, feverish conditions. It calls an undue amount of blood to the stomach, causing the limbs and extremities to chill quickly.”

Comment – Even though eating does draw blood to the stomach, it does not cause fever.

Score – Unverified

Why 47 – Over Eating 4 (What 46)

M. of H. page 304 – “In many cases the faintness that leads to a desire for food is felt because the digestive organs have been too severely taxed during the day.”

Page 37 – “The surplus food burdens the system and produces morbid, feverish conditions. It calls an undue amount of blood to the stomach, causing the limbs and extremities to chill quickly. It lays a heavy tax on the digestive organs, and when these organs have accomplished their task, there is a feeling of faintness or languor. Some who are continually overeating call this all-gone feeling hunger; but it is caused by the over-worked condition of the digestive organs.”