The losses in body-weight of Squads A and B are recorded in table 11. In interpreting this table it should be recalled that Squad B was subsisting upon a uniform diet of approximately 1,400 net calories, i. e., all the men received practically the same amount, while the diet for the members of Squad A varied. The absolute losses for the men are not, however, so significant as the percentage losses, and these are also given for both squads in table 11.

For Squad A two low values have been calculated: First, the absolute minimum for the entire period of observation, and second, the weight observed at the conclusion of the experiment. The greatest loss experienced with Squad A is recorded in column d, in kilograms, and the percentage loss, as compared with the initial weight, in column e. The values in column d were given in table 9, and have already been discussed in that connection. The greatest percentage loss was that found for Can of 13.8 per cent, although two others (Mon and Pea) showed a percentage loss of 13.5 and 13.4 per cent, respectively. The smallest loss was that found for Tom of 8.7 per cent. The average maximum loss for the entire squad was 12.1 per cent.

When we examine the final weights for Squad A, we find that none of the men retained their maximum loss at the end of the experiment, but that all increased in weight slightly, although the increase for Vea was only 0.2 kg. The greatest loss at the end of the test was still shown by Can, with a percentage loss of 13.2 per cent. The minimum loss was again found with Tom, with a percentage loss of 7.4 per cent. The average loss for the entire squad was 10.5 per cent. This is of special interest, as it will be recalled that the effort was made to secure an average loss in weight for these men of 10 per cent, and all of the men, except Tom, were able to reduce their weight to this extent. Pec found this reduction difficult, but was finally able to exceed the 10 per cent limit slightly. Thereafter he was given a little more freedom in diet, with a consequent increase in weight, so that the loss at the end of the experiment was but 8.1 per cent.

Table 11. - Percentage Losses In Body-Weight Of Squads A And B

1 Weight obtained Oct. 28. 1917; weight on Oct. 7 was 67.3 kg.

2 Weight obtained Dec. 16, 1917; Lon did not come to Boston with Squad B on Jan. 6, 1918.

3 Weight obtained on Dec. 13 just before subject left the squad.

The diet experiment with Squad B continued for but three weeks. The loss recorded at the end of the period ranged from a minimum of 2 kg. with Kim to a maximum of 5.8 kg. with How. Aside from the low values found with Kim and Wil, there is a striking uniformity in the losses of the members of this squad. The percentage losses show this general uniformity clearly. If we exclude the percentage losses for Wil of 4.8 per cent and Kim of 3.2 per cent, the range is from How, 8.1 per cent, to Fis, 6.0 per cent, with a general average loss of 6.5 per cent.

Post-Diet Increases In Body-Weight Of Squad A

Although numerous experiments could be made upon a squad of men at the lower nutritional level and during the recuperation period, it was impracticable to make further observations, since a number of the men left college and other duties prevented most of the remaining subjects from volunteering. Furthermore, the members of the Laboratory staff were fully occupied in completing the tabulations and analyses of the material in the major research. We have, therefore, only the records of the normal increments in body-weight in the subsequent period of recuperation. The balance used during the diet experiment, which had been carefully calibrated by the Nutrition Laboratory, remained at Springfield for several months after the research was completed. The men were requested to weigh themselves upon the balance from time to time during the spring. The usual normal conditions were observed, namely, the weighings were made with the subject in a post-absorptive condition, immediately after passing urine, nude, and the first thing in the morning. We were particularly fortunate in having the cooperation of one of the subjects, Mr. Ronald T. Veal, who personally superintended these post-diet weighings.

In the discussion of the individual body-weight curves, attention has already been called to the enormous gains in weight of practically every member of the squad after the experiment was concluded. These increments have been collected in table 12, together with the initial weights, the minimum weights during the period of reduced diet, the weights at the end of the period of reduced diet (February 3), and the last weights plotted on the charts (March 14). In the last three columns of the table are given, respectively, the increases on March 14 above the weights of February 3, the increases above the minimum weights, and the actual increases above the initial weights in the fall.

Table 12. - Increase In Body-Weight After Resumption Of Normal Diet, Squad A

1 Weight for Kon obtained Oct. 28, 1917.

2 Post-experimental weight for Kon was obtained Feb. 7, 1918.

3 Post-experimental weights for Mon and Tom were obtained Mar. 11, 1918.

The period between February 3 and March 14 represents 5 1/2 weeks (39 days). During this time these subjects gained from a minimum of 5.8 kg., in the case of Kon, to a maximum of 12.7 kg., in the case of Pea, the average gain in weight of the 11 men being 9.8 kg. The gain in weight over the lowest weight observed in the experiment ranged from 7.0 kg. with Kon, obtained February 7, i.e., 4 days after the removal of the diet restrictions, to 14.0 kg. with Moy and Pea, with an average gain of 10.8 kg. What is of prime importance, however, is the fact that with every man but Kon, whose last weight was February 7, the initial weight, as found in September, 1917, was exceeded on March 14. This increase ranged from 0.7 kg. with Bro to 7.2 kg. with Pec. Increases of 2.5 or more kilograms were observed for 6 of the 11 subjects.1

This great increase in weight following a period of reduced diet recalls previously reported observations on a group of 5 college students who were subjected to a 2-day fast at Wesleyan University in the fall of 1905.2 By January, 1906, all of the men had made measurable gains over their initial weight. A rough comparison with the body-weights of a number of college students during the same period of the year shows that while they also had a general tendency to increase in weight during this portion of the year, the increase for the subjects of the short fasting experiments was noticeably more than that for their fellow students. The suggestion was made at that time that a short period of inanition may so stimulate anabolism as to cause a subsequent increase in body-weight in possible preparation for further drafts upon body-tissue. "The tendency to store body-fat exhibited by the subjects of short fasts may indicate a protective action on the part of the body to provide for a subsequent draft upon body-material."3