Magic calorie-burning

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 37230

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "zoehooch" <zoehooch at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "marinafrants" <rusalka at i...> wrote:
> > do. :-)  In the books, however, there are very few overweight 
> > wizards or witches.  The only one I can think of off the top of 
my 
> > head is Neville.  
> 
> Mrs. Weasley isn't particularly thin. Nor is Professor Sprout.

I expect differences in eating habits and metabolism would account 
for that, just as they do with Neville.  Plus, Professor Sprout is a 
herbologist, and probably doesn't cast that many spells.

Which raises the question of Snape, who apparently manages to 
maintain his svelte physique without indulging in a lot foolish 
wandwaving.  I guess he a)is blessed with a good metabolism, the 
bastard; b) is ascetic in his eating habits; or c)does a killer step 
aerobics routine when no one's watching.

> 
> As one who prefers not to fantastize too much when developing a 
> theory, I suspect that the wizard population probably has a 
similar 
> range of weight to the British population.

Not fantasize too much?  Where's the fun in that?

Anyway, the wizard population probably does show a similar range of 
weight.  However, the Muggle British population does get up to 
exercise once in a while.  I've seen health clubs in London, and 
people jogging and stuff.  Since the wizarding population doesn't 
seem to go in for that sort of thing (if you don't play Quidditch, 
you don't do sports at all), I would expect them to be more 
overweight on the average.  Especially considering all the vast 
quantities of rich food that the Hogwarts house-elves dish out.  

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com