Table 2.: Paleopathological studies associating DISH in adults with obesity.

Author [Year] No. Subjects Year Location DISH Criteria* Percent with DISH Comment
Waldron [1985] [14] 35 monks 12-16th century Merton Priory, Surrey, UK Resnick 8.6% Monks were presumed to be well nourished
Rogers et al. [1985] [15] 303 non-specified Mediaeval Various UK sites, including churches “large flowing spinal osteophytes -typical of Forestier’s disease” 2.3% Probable mixed social status population - “control” group (includes 2 high SS clergy with DISH)
Bruintjes [1987] [16] 1 high SS male 10th century Saint Servaas Basilica Maastricht
The Netherlands
Not known 100%  
Mays [1991] [17] Unclear number monastic skeletons
51 lay skeletons
Mediaeval Blackfriars Priory Ipswich, UK 21 had “DISH”, 10 met Rogers and Waldron criteria
none had DISH
13.4% crude estimate Skeletons examined from different grave sites showed high prevalence of DISH in high SS individuals
Costa and Weber [1995] [18] 1 male of high SS Renaissance Basilica of San Lorenzo Florence Italy Not stated – typical description 100% Another member of Medici family, obesity documented in writings and evident in portraits
Maat et al. [1995 and 1998] [9] [19] 76 and 316 Friary skeletons Mediaeval Franciscan Priory Dordrecht
The Netherlands
Rogers and Waldron 14.5% - 19% crude estimate High prevalence of DISH in high SS individuals
Janssen and Maat [1999] [20] 27 Canons Mediaeval Saint Servaas Basilica Maastricht
The Netherlands
Rogers and Waldron 100% High prevalence of DISH in high SS individuals
Vidal [2000] [21] 99 non-specified Mediaeval Lorraine France CrubÉzy 2.8 - 3.7% Likely mixed SS population, indicating a “control” population
Rogers and Waldron [2001] [8] 192 low
SS laymen
80 high SS males
Mediaeval Wells Cathedral and Royal Mint London, UK Rogers and Waldron Low SS = 3.1%
High SS =13.7%
P<0.001
High prevalence of DISH in high SS individuals – “comparative study”
Verlaan et al. [2007] [22] 51 priests, monks, high status citizens Mediaeval Church of Our Lady Maastricht
The Netherlands
Rogers and Waldron 40.4%
10 male, 5 female, 2 non-determinant
High prevalence of DISH in high SS individuals
Giuffra et al. [2010] [23] 2 males of high SS Renaissance Basilica of San Lorenzo Florence Italy Rogers and Waldron 100% Members of Medici family, obesity documented in writings and evident in portraits

* See Table 2 for DISH criteria, NA = not applicable, SS = social status.