Aspects of Obesity in Ancient Greece and Rome
Aspekty obezity v antickom Grécku a Ríme
Résumé
Many literary and visual representations of fat bodies are found in the Graeco-Roman world and in Etruria. In some cases,
corpulence may reflect a high social status. But, in general, obesity was viewed as a moral problem and was subject to caricature.
Fat rulers or tyrants were widely regarded as morally corrupt. Obesity was also discussed in the field of ancient medicine.
Fatness was connected to perturbations of fertility and sterility. Regimes, regular exercise and bathing were prescribed for the
treatment of obesity