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
Leyton 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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The following table shows in statistical form the average heights and weights (inches and lbs. respectively) of children examined in the prescribed groups during the years 1943 and 1944.
1943
| Group. | Boys. | Girls. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. examined | Average height | Average weight | No. examined • | Average height | Average weight | |
| Entrants— | ||||||
| 1935 | 1 | 44.0 | 45.0 | 1 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| 1936 | 94 | 45.27 | 47.84 | 78 | 46.33 | 48.30 |
| 1937 | 161 | 42.33 | 42.59 | 162 | 42.46 | 41.83 |
| 1938 | 227 | 41.00 | 40.01 | 180 | 40.54 | 38.48 |
| 1939 | 127 | 39.03 | 37.35 | 141 | 39.29 | 36.54 |
| 1940 | 3 | 35.66 | 31.33 | 2 | 38.50 | 34.00 |
| Second Age Group | 474 | 51.48 | 63.71 | 414 | 51.18 | 62.38 |
| Third Age Group | 410 | 58.42 | 87.73 | 434 | 59.31 | 91.82 |
| 1944 | ||||||
| Group. | Boys. | Girls. | ||||
| No. examined | Average height | Average weight | No. examined | Average height | Average weight | |
| Entrants— | ||||||
| 1936 | — | — | — | 1 | 44.00 | 41.00 |
| 1937 | 85 | 45.66 | 47.24 | 77 | 45.89 | 47.60 |
| 1938 | 233 | 43.46 | 43.16 | 222 | 43.07 | 42.03 |
| 1939 | 222 | 41.33 | 40.19 | 238 | 40.61 | 38.03 |
| 1940 | *121 | 38-41 | 35.74 | 7.6 | 38.19 | 34.88 |
| 1941 | 4 | 35.75 | 33.75 | 1 | 36.00 | 30.00 |
| Second Age Group | 362 | 51.40 | 64.38 | 285 | 51.00 | 62.34 |
| Third Age Group | 393 | 58.71 | 90.12 | 366 | 58.93 | 91.20 |
* Two not weighed.
Observations by Dr. Mary L. Gilchrist.
The nutrition of the school children appears to be well maintained.
A comparison of weights and heights with those obtained
before the war is unfortunately not able to be made with much
accuracy. The routine inspection groups are not examined in
the same school terms as they were before the war resulting in the
leaver group being 6/12 or so younger and the intermediate group
about 6/12 older. This would account for any fall in the heights
and weights of the leaver group and a rise in heights and weights
of the intermediate groups.
The nutrition and the heights and weights of the entrants to
the schools appear to be much the same as before the war.