Magical Metabolism

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 97439

In a wonderfully detailed essay, Food and Drink in the Potter Universe 
(http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-food.html), Susanna/pigwidgeon37 begins 
by pointing out the obvious – not only are wizards and witches resistant to 
aging, they seem remarkably immune to high cholesterol, obesity and butterbeer 
gut. She goes on to list the foods presented at Hogwarts feasts, daily meals, 
the Burrow, Hagrid's Hut and the Hogwarts express – an astounding literary 
endorsement of the Atkins diet. I may be no Fleur Delacour, but I found myself 
siding against Hermione when Fleur complained that `zis `Ogwarts food - it is 
too heavy'.

When I first read these books, I assumed that the culinary details were merely 
another inclusion of British tradition, however – whether consciously or not - 
the books display a consistent linkage between body type and magical power. 
Tall thin wizards and witches, with long thin noses and long thin fingers are 
more powerfully magical than others, on average. Albus Dumbledore, Tom 
Riddle/Lord Voldemort, Barty Crouch Sr., Arthur Weasley (and sons Bill, Percy 
and Ron), Professor McGonagall and Sirius Bla ck are all described as tall and 
thin. By contrast, plump short characters include Dolores Umbridge, Cornelius 
Fudge, Neville Longbottom, Molly Weasley, Madam Rosmerta and Prof essor Sprout. 
While the later ladies in that group are relatively unknown quantities in terms 
of magical ability, Umbridge, Fudge and Neville were all singled out as 
relatively weakly magical. While Hagrid is not short, and is described a very 
muscular – he is also fairly broad (2 times taller, but 4-5 times wider than a 
normal man), and is not h ighly magical. Among the baddies, Crabbe and Goyle 
(Jrs and Srs) are described as boulderish – and are also weakly magical.

Perhaps the long, lean phenotype of powerfully magical individuals is not 
merely a correlate. Could it be that magical abilities, as a physical 
manifestation derived from the magical individual, require their own fuel 
supply? Powerfully magical individuals might have a relatively higher magical 
metabolism – and maintain a lean body type (as would, say, a growing teenage 
boy – despite voracious eating). This might also explain the astounding diet of 
the average Hogwarts student – being magical, they all need the extra calories 
as compared to us Muggles. Were the Dursley's trying to starve, as well as 
squash, the magic out of Harry?

It seems that some forms of magic may be relatively less metabolically taxing 
than others – regardless of their utility. For example, Professor Sprout and 
Neville both display surpassing skill in herbology, while Madam Rosmerta and 
Molly Weasley have definite talents in mulled mead and magical 
cookery / "householdy spells" (to use Tonks’ phrase). Now – please don't come 
after me with meat cleavers for noticing this – I am not about to suggest that 
transfiguring yourself into a tabby cat is more important or useful than making 
cream sauce with your wand. Only that, from the hypothetical magical metabolism 
point of view, the advanced, spell and wand intensive magical disciplines seem 
to be more taxing. While Snape may be potions master, I suspect his skill in 
other areas of magic is also very high, so it's difficult to say for Potions 
ability.

The magical metabolism argument may also extend to magical creatures such as 
long- fingered house elves and goblins. 

It could also be suggested that JKR just doesn't encourage obesity (a failure 
in the staunch defense of all things British if ever there was one – and I can 
say that with honesty and humility being an American). Her characterizations of 
Dudley, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Marge are not very flattering. Also, skinny non-
magical folk like Aunt Petunia and Mrs. Figg occur, so being thin is not, by 
itself, indication that a character is magical. Likewise, it's not a direct 
correlate of magical ability in the child characters especially – Ron is 
clearly the tallest and leanest of the trio, and of course, I have high hopes 
for Neville's magical skills while wishing to see his round good-natured face 
for some time.

Just some thoughts...

Caesian