Concerns about health and weight are often discussed today, but looking back at history shows that people were talking about serious health problems related to being overweight surprisingly long ago. In March of 1954, LIFE magazine, a major publication at the time, published an article with a striking title: “The Plague of Overweight.” This article highlighted that even in the mid-20th century, excess weight was seen as a significant health challenge in the United States.
The very first sentence of the 1954 LIFE article made a strong statement. It declared that “the most serious health problem in the U.S. today is obesity.” This sentence is notable because it sounds very much like something that could be written in a news report many decades later, indicating that the issue was recognized as a major health concern quite early on. Calling it a “plague” also shows the seriousness with which the magazine viewed the problem in 1954.
To illustrate this health challenge, the LIFE article didn’t just present facts and figures. It focused on a personal story to make the issue relatable to its readers. The article chronicled the weight loss struggles faced by a woman named Dorothy Bradley. At the time the story picked up, Dorothy was 31 years old and weighed 205 pounds. Her story provided a human face for the “Plague of Overweight” discussed in the article.
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Dorothy Bradley was originally from Tennessee, and the article detailed her personal journey and her desire for a change in her life. It mentioned her aspiration to work in the medical field, which added another layer to her focus on health. Her efforts to lose weight were central to the narrative presented in the magazine.
The LIFE article was honest about the difficulties of losing weight. It followed Dorothy through the ups and downs of her journey. She experienced successes, managing to lose a significant amount of weight – 60 pounds at one point. However, the article also showed the common challenge of weight loss: backsliding. It reported that she had gained that weight back, and even added a little more. This part of the story showed readers that losing weight was a difficult and sometimes frustrating process.
Despite the setbacks, Dorothy’s story, as told in the 1954 article, ultimately had a positive turn. By the time the magazine published the article in March 1954, she had achieved significant progress again. The report stated that she had lost close to 70 pounds and, importantly, had managed to keep the weight off. This demonstrated resilience and determination in overcoming the challenges she faced.
To visually tell the story of “The Plague of Overweight” and Dorothy Bradley’s journey, photographer Martha Holmes created a series of pictures. These photographs were intended to illustrate the article for the magazine’s readers. They aimed to show the reality of the health issue and one individual’s struggle and success.
![Bulging at beach in 1949, 197-pound Dorothy [Bradley] self-consciously leaves locker room for swim. She covered up embarrassment by being jolly and gregarious.](https://www.bygonely.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Plague_of_Overweight_1954_1.jpg)
