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OBES SURG (2008) 18:763765 DOI 10.1007/s11695-007-9362-1
HISTORICAL NOTE
Management of Obesity in the Writings of Soranus of Ephesus and Caelius Aurelianus
Niki Papavramidou & Helen Christopoulou-Aletra
Received: 25 February 2007 /Accepted: 26 June 2007 / Published online: 2 April 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007
Abstract Caelius Aurelianus (5th century AD) is famous for translating the writings of Soranus of Ephesus (2nd century AD) into Latin. In his book On acute and chronic diseases, Caelius gives an almost complete edition of the works of Soranus, while adding some of his own and other writers material. Obesity was even at that time considered to be a disease and the authors treat the subject extensively. The nature, etiology, the clinical manifestations of obesity are described, although treatment covers the greatest part of the material. Infliction of perspiration, very low caloric intake diet, exercise, and diuresis are proposed, and one cannot overlook the strong similarities of some of the treatments with those used nowadays as secondary aids for weight loss.
Keywords Soranus of Ephesus . Caelius Aurelianus .
Obesity history. Metasyncritic measures . Cyclical regimen
Introduction
Caelius Aurelianus (5th century AD) is famous for translating the writings of Soranus of Ephesus into Latin. In his book On acute and chronic diseases, Caelius gives
an almost complete edition of the works of Soranus, while adding some of his own and other writers material. Soranus of Ephesus (2nd century AD) was a famous physician and the most distinguished of the Methodists [1]. His best-known treatises are Gynaecia and Acute and chronic diseases.
Nature, Etiology, Clinical Manifestations
Caelius Aurelianus and Soranus describe obesity as the disease where the body keeps acquiring additional flesh beyond what is needed. They believe it is an unsightly affliction because there are no apparent symptoms other than the increase of flesh [2]. The cause of this disease is the unnatural increase of food intake. The patient suffers from accumulation of flesh that is fully apparent in the body; he moves in a slothful way, and feels heavy and weak. Only a few steps cause shortness of breath and sweating to such a point that the patient feels suffocated by his own body and...