Peterman was born in
Merrill, Wisconsin. He attended Merrill Public School (1901–1909), followed by Merrill High School (1909–1913). He obtained his Sc.B. from
University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1918, A.M. from
Washington University in St. Louis in 1919 and M.D. from
Washington University School of Medicine in 1920. Peterman's ketogenic diet was described as consisting of "one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight in children, 10–15 g of carbohydrate per day, and the remainder of the calories in fat". Peterman observed that excess
ketosis could cause nausea and vomiting which could be relieved by his patients drinking
orange juice. He was a consultant in paediatrics to the
United States Public Health Service (1954–1964). Peterman was a member of the
American Academy of Pediatrics and was a vice-president of the American chapter of the
International League Against Epilepsy. ==Personal life==