London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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82
The average heights and weights were taken of all the boys with the following
results :—
| Age. | Athletic boys. | Non-athletic boys. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilos. | Centimetres. | Kilos. | Centimetres | |
It is clear that there is no significant difference between the two groups from the
point of view of physical measurements.
This is clearly shown in fig. 3, which gives the height.weight ratios of the two
groups.
It was thought that it might be of interest to compare the physique of boys
who excelled in different types of sport. Some surprising results emerged. It
was found that the type of physique which supplied the best talent in boxing, football
and swimming was, in each, distinct and different from that of the others. Boxers
were short and heavy, footballers corresponded to the average, while swimmers were
very tall but with a normal weight for their height. The results are shown graphically
in fig. 4.
| Classification. | 11—12 years. | 12—13 years. | 13—14 years. | 14—15 years. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilos. | Cms. | Kilos. | Cms. | Kilos. | Cms. | Kilos. | Cms. | |
Physique in
children at
residential
schools.
The managing committee of the Leytonstone children's home drew attention
to the fact that of 36 boys of appropriate age only 20 satisfied the physical requirements
for transfer to the Exmouth training ship, if they desired to be trained for
sea life.
I was instructed to report upon the question, showing how the Leytonstone boys
compare with boys in other residential schools, and also in elementary (including
central) schools, especially those in the East End.