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68
Age Range *
Height (in inches)
Weight (in pounds)
Mean S.D. Mean S.D.
11.5 - 12 years 58.36 2.692 90.73 17.66
12 - 12.5 ,, 59.20 3.341 94. 33 20.53
12.5 - 13 ,, 61.43 2.877 103.34 18.09
13 - 13.5 ,, 61.90 2.430 107.01** 18.90
13.5- 14 ,, 63.42 2.887 114.87 21.69
14 - 14.5 ,,63.54 2.468 121.36 25.19
14.5-15 ,, 63.58 2.475 1 20.57 17. 17
15 - 15.5 ,, 4.29 2.588 120.72 13.31
15.5 - 16 ,, 64.88 2.050 123.68 19.51
(*Girls under 11.5 years or over 16 were excluded as the
groups were too small to be statistically significant.)
(**Qne weight (180 lbs.) excluded.)
Comparing these results with the 1955 figures, from Scott
there is an increase per cent from 5.9% - 15.6% in mean weight,
but only 1.98% to 3.02% increase in mean height.
Approximately 8% of the girls were thought to need treatment
for their obesity.
To cope with these large numbers, experiments have been
started to deal with the problem at school level. The girls who
have wanted dietetic advice have been seen as a group and then
followed-up regularly at school. Hie response and results so far
have been encouraging.
Summary
The numbers of overweight schoolchildren appear to be increasing,
and experience suggests that this will present further
health hazards in the future, since the obesity is expected to
continue into adult life. At present the increase in mean weight
of schoolchildren is proportionally higher than that of mean
height, and this suggests rather that the modern schoolchild is
becoming overweight than that the malnourishment of earlier
years is still being corrected.
Prevention and treatment of this condition is largely a
matter for nutritional re-education than medical therapeutics.
This fact, and the large numbers involved suggest that the
School Health Service has a unique role to play in the care of
the overweight schoolchild.