Learn from History: The Weight Loss Strategy of President Taft

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History exists to teach life lessons, and today, 27th President of the United States William Howard Taft is teaching the world the need to maintain a healthy weight. The 'distinguished jurist' was known for his imposing presence, and a research report now reveals that Former President Taft struggled to keep his weight down, according to ABC News.

Before serving as President in 1909, Howard S. Taft sought the advice of his doctor in reducing his weight. He went from 314 pounds to 255 pounds, thanks to a diet that's low in carbohydrates.  The details of the former President's diet is revealed in a record of correspondence between Taft and his doctor, Dr. Nathaniel E. Yorke-Davies, reports the NY Daily News. The diet consisted of 'hot water with lemon and a light breakfast of lean meat and biscuits.'

A report of Taft's struggle and success in overcoming obesity is made by Deborah Levine, an assistant professor of health policy and management at Providence College in Rhode Island. Publishing her research on the Annals of Internal Medicine, Levine explains that it was in 1905 that Taft was introduced to Dr. Yorke-Davies by the former President's sister-in-law. The doctor then advised Taft about his diet, recommending him a list of foods to eat and to avoid. Taft was also advised to record his weight every day and to report his progress weekly with a letter, according to ABC News.

Deemed to be an effective administrator, Taft had complained of several health issues to his doctor, including 'heartburn, indigestion and fatigue.' Interestingly, Dr. Yorke-Davies recommended the former President to ingest certain foods and certain drinks in specific times of day. One example is that having to sip a cup of hot lemon water at 8:00 a.m. and then having a light breakfast of biscuits and lean meat at 9:00 a.m. Stewed fruit, cooked vegetables and "clear soup" were also part of the diet, reports the NY Daily News.

Yorke-Davies kept a close monitor of Taft's progress, even writing to the former President's family and advisors. All the hard work had paid off, with Taft reducing his weight by a whopping 60 pounds by the summer of 1906. In 1909 however, Taft's weight had gone back up to 354 pounds. Standing at 6 feet, 2 inches tall, The 27th US President would still be considered obese in modern standards.  

The weight fluctuation experienced by former President Taft is a common dilemma among dieters today, and experts encourage close monitoring and constant correspondence between the dieter and his or her fitness trainer or nutritionist. This way, the dieter would be consistent in the application of their weight loss strategy.