MEDICAL NEWSLETTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05077A000100090013-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: August 1, 1972
• Content Type: MISC

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August 1972
With this first edition the Office of
Medical Services inaugurates a short newsletter
that includes points of importance concerning
health, physical fitness, and general well-being.
Subsequent issues are planned on a quarterly basis.
OBESITY - ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HEART DISEASE AND HEALTH
Coronary artery disease affects more than 20 million
people in the United States, and each year more than 600,000
persons die from myocardial infarction or "heart attack."
The major factors recognized as predisposing to the develop-
ment of coronary artery disease are hypertension (high blood
pressure), smoking, obesity, increased blood lipids (cholesterol
and triglycerides), lack of exercise, elevated levels of uric
acid, diabetes mellitus,. and a family history of heart disease.
In a~recent study of heart disease patients at the
Sacramento, California Medical Center, the factor associated
most dramatically and significantly with heart disease, as
compared with the normal, was obesity; this was especially
true in patients with premature vascular disease. The effects
of obesity on many of the other recognized "risk factors" are
well-known and obesity may be the link that connects some of
the other abnormalities together.
In another study at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology Clinical Research Center conducted by Dr. Robert
S. Lees, it was found that weight reduction in obese patients
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who were only 7 to 18% over ideal body weight, produced a
partial or complete return of blood lipids to normal in
those patients who had elevated levels at the beginning of
the study. This reduction in blood fats was accomplished
without attempting to alter the percentages of saturated fats,
unsaturated fats or cholesterol in the diet. Other benefits
from weight reduction in his study were generally improved
feelings of well-being, increased physical activity, signifi-
cant blood pressure reductions, mild decreases in blood sugar
levels, and drops in uric acid levels. Obesity, then, may
indeed predispose an individual to premature heart disease and
weight reduction will lower toward normal several of the other
important risk factors for coronary artery disease.
There are known and measurable effects of obesity on the
cardiovascular system in general. In very obese subjects,
there are consistent increases in cardiac or heart work which
may result in heart enlargement and even heart failure. Under-
breathing in the very obese person (Pickwickian Syndrome) may
result in somnolence, twitchings, alterations in blood counts,
heart enlargement, and heart failure. Increased blood pressure
is common in the very obese and, as mentioned, may be reduced
by weight loss. Indeed, most circulatory derangements associated
with obesity can be reversed or significantly improved by weight
reduction.
In addition to the effects of obesity on the heart and
vascular system, there are also adverse effects on health in
general. Insurance companies have given us the most information
regarding the general medical significance of obesity. Act-
uarial studies have shown that mortality in men aged 15 to 69
is 1/3 higher in those 20% or more overweight than "standard
risk" men, and mortality is 1/5 greater among men 10% or more
overweight. When overweight men are compared to men with the
most ideal weights, rather than "standard risk" men, the excess
mortality is nearly 1/2 for those 20% or more overweight and
1/3 for those 10% or more overweight. This increase in
mortality is associated with diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases,
strokes and heart disease. Surgical procedures are more difficult
in the obese individual and also account for some of the. increased
morbidity and mortality.
In short, then, obesity is not only a problem of physical
appearance, but more importantly, it is related to increasing
morbidity and mortality for the obese person. Fortunately,
these adverse factors associated with obesity are reversible
in large measure. Obesity however is not always a simple
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matter of overeating and may be associated with psychic or
endocrine disorders. Therefore, reversal by weight reduction
under medical supervision is strongly advised.
No discussion of obesity would be complete without a
list of desirable weights. A table of desirable weights from
the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is reproduced below.
Fad diets are numerous; they are often however not
successful and they do not establish good eating habits which
are necessary to maintain ideal weights later on.
Some general facts of interest to the weight watcher are
listed below.
(1) If we take in more calories than our bodies need the
excess is stored as fat.
(2) With increasing age, metabolism and physical activity
usually decrease, even though the level of appetite remains
the same. Therefore, weight increases as a person takes
in more food than he needs.
(3) Surplus calories regardless of whether they come from
protein, carbohydrate or fat, are stored as fat.
(4) overweight people have a shorter life expectancy, and
are more prone to the vascular and degenerative diseases.
(5) Proteins and carbohydrates contain four calories per
gram and fat contains nine calories per gram.
(6) Overweight people often eat too rapidly and have
consumed large amounts of food before their body appetite
regulating centers have a chance to act and reduce
appetite.
(7) Too rapid weight loss often indicates a loss of muscle
protein instead of fat. An ideal weight loss is between
one to two pounds per week.
(8) Alcohol has no nutritional value and an eight-ounce
glass of beer provides an extra 115 calories.
(9) Moderate exercise does not increase appetite and is
a good way to maintain a desirable weight and keep fit.
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WOMEN 25 years of age and over (indoor clothing)
HEIGHT SMALL MEDIUM LARGE
(shoes on) FRAME FRAME FRAME
Ft. I n.
4 10 92-98 96-107 104-1 19
4 11 94-101 98-1 10 106-1 22
5 0 96-104 101-,113 109-1 25
5 1 99-107 104-1 16 112-128
5 2 102-1 10 107-1 19 115-131
5 3 105-113 110-122 118-1 34
5 4 108-116 113-126 121-138
5 5 111-119 116-130 125-142
5 6 114-123 12.0-135 129-146
5 7 118-1 27 1 24-1 39 133-1 50
5 8 122-131 128-143 1 37-1 54
5 9 1 26-1 35 132-147 141-158
5 10 130-140 136-151 145-163
5 11 134-144 140-1 55 149-168
6 0 1 38-1 48 144-1 59 1 53-173
MEN 25 years of age and over (indoor clothing)
HEIGHT
(shoes on)
SMALL
FRAME
MEDIUM
FRAME
LARGE
FRAME
Ft.
In.
5
2
112-120
118-129
126-141
5
3
115-123
121-133
129-144
5
4
118-126
1 24-1 36
132-148
5
5
121-129
127-1 39
1 35-1 52
5
6
1 24-1 33
130-143
1 38-1 56
5
7
1 28-1 37
134-147
142-1 61
5
8
132-141
1 38-1 52
147-1 66
5
9
136-145
142-1 56
151-170
5
10
140-1 50
146-1 60
155-174
5
11
144-1 54
150-165
159-179
6
0
148-1 58
154-170
164-184
6
1
1 52-1 62
158-175
168-189
6
2
156-167
162-180
173-1 94
6
3
160-171
167-185
178-1 99
6
4
164-175
172-190
182-204
4 _
I
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(10) Skipping meals is a poor way to reduce weight since
overeating often occurs at the next meal. Regular meals
with smaller portions are more desirable.
(11) On a dietary program, weight should be taken at the
same time each day since weight will vary throughout the
day because of changes in the total amount of body water.
(12) Seven pounds of body fat hold one pint of water.
(13) Some salt restriction helps weight reduction.
(14) 4,000 calories make up one, pound of fat.
(15) As little as 200 calories extra a day will, in the
course of one year, lead to a storage of 18 pounds of
fat.
(16) Because of our mechanized way of life, our caloric
requirements are considerably less than previously; for
example, a housewife's work which once required 250
calories an hour, now requires only 120 because of
electrical appliances. A person commuting 2-1/2 miles
by walking uses up 210 calories; however, when he drives,
he uses only 17 calories.
(17) A list of calories spent in various activities is
listed below.
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Resting, Standing and Walking
Calories per minute
Calories per minute
-Resting in bed
Sitting
Sitting, reading
Sitting, eating
Sitting, playing cards
Standing
Standing, light activity
1.2
1.4
1.4
1.6
1.7
1.6
2.8
Kneeling
Squatting
Walking, indoors
Walking, outdoors
Walking, downstairs
Walking, upstairs
Standing, showering
1.4
2.2
3.4
6.1
7.6
20.0
3.7
Working Around the Home
Washing clothes
2.9
Mopping floors
5.3
Hanging laundry
4.7
Sweeping floors
1.7
Bringing in laundry
3.2
Scrubbing floors
6.0
Machine sewing
1.5
Shaking carpets
6.4
Ironing clothes
4.2
Peeling vegetables
2.9
Making beds
5.3
Stirring, mixing foods
3.0
Do it yourself
Sawing wood
6.9
Pushing wheelbarrow
5.2
Planing wood
8.6
Chopping wood
4.9
Carrying tools
3.6
Stacking wood
6.1
Shovelling
7.1
Drilling
7.0
Sports and hobbies
Football
10.1
Badminton
2.8
Basketball
8.6
Rowing
8.0
Ping pong
4.8
Sailing
2.6
Swimming
12.1
Playing Pool
3.0
Golfing
5.5
Dancing
4.0
Tennis
7.0
Horseback riding
3.0
Bowling
8.1
Cycling
8.0
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HEALTH TOPICS
"Jet Lag"
To minimize the effects of "jet lag" or circadian rhythm
disturbances in persons who air-travel long distances, Dr.
George Catlett, New York regional"medical director of United
Air Lines, recommends that the traveller depart well-rested
and that he plan no strenuous activities during the first
24 hours after arrival.
Because many body functions have approximately a 24-
hour cycle (circadian rhythm), travel from one time zone to
a significantly different one may be associated with a number
of symptoms including fatigue, paradoxical insomnia, loss of
appetite, dizziness, blurred vision, and at times confusion
or depression. Shortening of the environmental cycle produces,
usually, a more pronounced change than lengthening it. Flyers
often report more difficulty when flying west to east, for
example.
It is suggested that travellers choose daylight departures,
and eat and drink with moderation before and during the flight.
The problem is self-limited, and generally, "rest without
napping during the daylight hours of the new time cycle and
sleep after nightfall are usually all that is required".
Alcohol May be Harmful to Cardiac Patients
A group at Fordham Hospital in New York has found that
10 heart patients pumped less blood one half hour after
drinking two ounces of chilled whiskey compared to pre-drinking
levels. Contrary to popular belief, in this group of heart
disease patients, alcohol acted as a blood vessel constrictor,
rather than a dilator. Four normal persons showed the expected
results from alcohol, namely a dilatation of blood vessels and
an increase in volume of blood pumped.
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At Mount Sinai Medical School, acute heart muscle
deterioration has been observed in normal non-alcoholic
persons who drank heavily over a period of one month. There
was a return to normalcy following cessation of drinking.
The Surgeon General's Report on the Effect of Smoking on Non-
Smokers
The United States Public Health Service Surgeon General's
most recent report on cigarette smoking reinforces evidence
of tobacco links to lung cancer, unsuccessful pregnancy, and
coronary heart disease. It also describes the plight of the
non-smoker surrounded by smokers. The burning of a fair amount
of tobacco in a confined, unventilated space can clearly push
the carbon monoxide concentration to and over the threshold
limits set by Federal law for occupational exposure. There
is some risk, for example, for a non-smoker riding in a closed
car full of smokers. The levels of carbon monoxide exposures
are not too different from those that have been associated
with altered hearing, visual acuity loss, and a loss of ability
to distinguish brightness. At carbon monoxide levels similar
to those at an average party, heart disease patients show
symptoms of heart muscle oxygen lack. It is clear that in a
closed environment, the smoker may place at risk not only
himself but also those around him.
Use of Marijuana May Disrupt Sleet
A study supported by the Navy suggests in its preliminary
report that marijuana significantly disrupts normal sleep
patterns. Laboratory animals had less deep sleep as a result
of the chronic administration of marijuana. In human subjects
studied to date,. there was significantly less deep sleep after
seven days of daily marijuana usage. During the recovery week,
significant loss of deep sleep was still observed.
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