In this 1863 pamphlet, English businessman William Banting describes his long struggle with obesity and the many ineffective treatments he tried—exercise, spa therapies, medications, and severe calorie restriction—before finding success with a dietary approach recommended by a physician. Banting explains that despite remaining active and not overeating, his weight steadily increased, which he attributed largely to frequent consumption of bread, sugar, milk, beer, and potatoes.

Under his new plan, Banting eliminated most starchy and sugary foods and instead ate mainly meat, fish, vegetables (excluding potatoes), and small amounts of fruit while avoiding bread, milk, sugar, beer, and other foods he believed promoted fat accumulation. Within months he reported steady weight loss, improved mobility, better sleep, and relief from various health complaints. Banting ultimately lost about 46 pounds and described feeling healthier than he had in decades.

Although written long before modern metabolic science, Banting’s account is one of the earliest widely circulated descriptions of a carbohydrate-restricted diet for weight loss. His experience challenged the prevailing belief that obesity was primarily caused by inactivity or gluttony, and his pamphlet helped popularize the idea that certain foods—particularly starches and sugars—play a central role in fat gain.