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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Dr. T. S. Macrae, O.B.E., D.Sc. To provide a check on the standards of meals served,
random samples were analysed from time to time by the Council's Scientific Adviser
(see page 49).
Average heights and weights of school pupils
During 1954 a survey of the heights and weights of a sample of school pupils was
carried out and a full report of the survey has been published separately*. Schools were
chosen at random within the nine health divisions thus ensuring that the sample was
geographically and socially representative. The schools selected actually yielded records
for 21,003 children (10,904 boys and 10,099 girls), and the distribution of records was
adequate for the calculation of averages. It should be mentioned that the children were
measured and weighed in their ordinary indoor clothing but without footwear—heights
were recorded to the nearest centimetre and weights to the nearest 1 /10 kilogramme.
The County averages were as follows:—
| Age Years | Average height at stated age | Average weight at stated age | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cm. | in. | kg. | lb. | |
| 5.5 | 111.1 | 43¾ | 19.90 | 43¾ |
| 6.5 | 117.1 | 46 | 22.21 | 49 |
| 7.5 | 123.7 | 48¾ | 25.01 | 55¼ |
| 8.5 | 129.1 | 50¾ | 27.64 | 61 |
| 9.5 | 133.8 | 52¾ | 30.33 | 66¾ |
| 10.5 | 139.0 | 54¾ | 33.23 | 73¼ |
| 11.5 | 143.4 | 56½ | 36.38 | 80¼ |
| 12.5 | 148.8 | 58½ | 40.36 | 89 |
| 13.5 | 154.0 | 60¾ | 44.32 | 97¾ |
| 14.5 | 161.2 | 63¾ | 50.82 | 112 |
| 15.5 | 167.9 | 66 | 57.48 | 126¾ |
| 5.5 | 110.2 | 43½ | 19.38 | 42¾ |
| 6.5 | 116.4 | 4¾ | 21.89 | 48¼ |
| 7.5 | 122.4 | 48¼ | 24.30 | 53½ |
| 8.5 | 127.7 | 50½ | 26.92 | 59¼ |
| 9.5 | 133.2 | 52½ | 29.88 | 65¾ |
| 10.5 | 138.5 | 54½ | 33.16 | 73 |
| 11.5 | 144.5 | 57 | 36.83 | 81¼ |
| 12.5 | 150.2 | 59¼ | 41.73 | 92 |
| 13.5 | 155.4 | 61¼ | 46.21 | 101¾ |
| 14.5 | 159.2 | 62¾ | 50.88 | 112¼ |
| 15.5 | 161.4 | 63½ | 54.18 | 119½ |
NOTE.—The averages at the stated age intervals are obtained by simple linear interpolation of the crude data.
It was considered desirable to extend the scope of the survey to obtain some data
on the relationship of height and weight to the onset of puberty. The attainment of
sexual maturity is a long process and in the case of girls, for example, can be recorded
by the time sequence of changes in the development of breast, pubic hair and axillary
hair, as well as by the occurrence of the menarche; development changes in the first three
can be still further sub-divided. As an initial step, therefore, it was decided to regard
the breaking of the voice among boys and the commencement of menstruation among
girls as broad indications of the onset of sexual maturity and pupils were asked whether
the appropriate event had occurred. From many points of view it would have been
desirable to have known the age and not merely the fact of maturity but had the question
been asked the answer would have been merely the child's recollection which might
well have been inaccurate and any deductions therefore misleading.
*Report on the heights and weights of school pupils in the County of London in 1954. Staples Press
Ltd., London.
98