William Banting

William Banting
Born	c. December 1796
Died	16 March 1878(1878-03-16) (aged 81–82) Kensington, London, England
Occupation	Undertaker, coffin maker
Nationality	British
Genre	Nonfiction
Subject	Low-carbohydrate diet
Spouse	Mary Ann (wife)
Children	Amelia (daughter)

William Banting was a prominent English undertaker and, notably, the first individual to popularise a weight loss diet based on reduced carbohydrate intake. Initially an obese individual, Banting turned his health around following dietary advice from Dr. William Harvey of Soho Square. Harvey's recommendations were rooted in diabetes management techniques he'd encountered in Paris, as presented by Claude Bernard.

Professional Career

In the 19th century, William Banting's family enterprise, situated on St. James’s Street in London, stood as one of Britain's most reputable funeral direction companies. Their reputation was so esteemed that the Banting family were entrusted as the funeral directors for the Royal Household, overseeing the burials of several significant figures such as:

• King George III (1820)
• King George IV (1830)
• Duke of Gloucester (1834)
• Duke of Wellington (1852)
• Prince Albert (1861)
• Prince Leopold (1884)
• Queen Victoria (1901)
• King Edward VII (1910)

The illustrious association of the Banting family with the Royal Household concluded in 1928 when William Westport Banting retired.

Weight Loss Diet

Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public

In 1863, Banting authored a booklet titled Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public. This work was framed as an open letter, serving as a testimonial of his personal experiences. Banting detailed his earlier unsuccessful ventures into various diets, spa treatments, and exercise routines—most of which were advised by medical professionals of the time.

He then outlined the dietary regimen that bore him success, as prescribed by yet another medical expert. Banting's diet consisted of four daily meals that included meat, greens, fruits, and dry wine. Central to his diet was the omission of sugar, sweet substances, starch, beer, milk, and butter.

Banting initially self-published his booklet, but its soaring popularity led to its commercial sale through Harrison, London in its third and subsequent editions. This publication remains available both in print and online as of 2007.

The Term "Banting"

Such was the impact and popularity of Banting's booklet that the term "banting" or questions like "Do you bant?" became synonymous with his prescribed method and, in some contexts, dieting in general. In Sweden, the term "banta" still denotes dieting. The Banting diet gained renewed traction in South Africa due to scientist Tim Noakes, who named his high-fat, low-carb diet in honour of Banting.

Legacy

Banting's pioneering approach to weight loss has secured him a lasting place in the annals of dietary history. Notable mentions include the prologue "A brief history of Banting" in Gary Taubes' book Good Calories, Bad Calories. Discussions on low-carb diets frequently harken back to Banting's original work.

Personal Life

Intriguingly, William Banting shared a distant familial link with Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin. William Banting's final resting place is alongside his wife and daughter at Brompton Cemetery, London.

External links

• Banting Foundation
• The History of Dieting

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