History of the Corpulent

"History of the Corpulent"
Introduction
For centuries some of the signs of affluence were signified by material items such as grand homes and fine jewelry. The differences in classes could be quickly ascertained by the clothes one wore. In addition to these material things, the rich had access to one other thing that the poor didn't: fine food, and lots of it. Perhaps this is how one's girth came to be associated with wealth and why so many were fat.
Early attempts centuries ago at regulating one's weight were meant to alleviate stomach disorders, which seemed to plague many peopl…