The Mystery of Medieval Fat: Why They Never Grew Obese

In the Middle Ages, fat wasn't a luxury or a health concern.

It was pure, vital survival fuel. The average peasant burned nearly four thousand calories every

single day just to keep working. From dawn until dusk, life was an

endless cycle of heavy lifting and manual farm labor. Even household chores involved intense physical

activity that modern humans can hardly imagine today. They ate lard, butter,

and tallow, but they completely lacked modern seed oils and sugars. Even the wealthy

elite, who feasted regularly, stayed leaner than the average modern office worker.

Their diet was high in fiber and seasonal vegetables, which kept their gut health in