ABSTRACT
Weight and height are the scaffolding of the body in public and in private. Both are important for women and for men; in some ways height is more significant to men than women, and weight to women than men, although there are reversals. Completing the body in outline are the shape and size of the breasts, belly and buttocks. Both men and women are supposed to have shapely buttocks and no bellies; only women's bodies should grow breasts. Height is an important aspect of the body in young adulthood—to be tall is proper for a man, not too short or tall is right for a woman. People generally do not comment on yellowed teeth or graying hair, but they do pay attention to weight. Our culture does not as yet have a cure for old age but bulges with cures for unbearable weight, most of which revolve around the ancient ideals of moderation and self-control.
