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
Bromley 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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three groups—low, medium and upper, and which give the percentage of children in each group.
| Height in inches | Boys (average age 12 7/12 years') | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 per cent. | 1946 per cent. | Wt. in lbs. | 1939 per cent. | 1946 per cent. | |
In the intermediate group (8 year olds) the records of 574 children (310 boys and 264 girls) were examined in 1946, compared with 512 (278 boys and 234 girls) in 1939. The average weight of boys was increased by 1 3/8 lbs. and that of girls, ½ lb., compared with pre-war. There was no difference in the average height of girls, but the boys showed an average increase of 1".
| Boys | Girls | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 1946 | 1939 | 1946 | |
It will be seen that the children examined in 1946 were, on
an average, one month younger than those examined in 1939,
and, in order that a true comparison can be made, an adjustment
to allow for the age factor must be made. According to the
statistics for London school children, those between 7 and 8
years of age should gain an average of half a pound per month.
The average height of children in this age group should also
increase at the rate of 2 inches per year.
After these adjustments have been made, the true comparative tables are as follows:—
| Boys | Girls | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 1946 | 1939 | 1946 | |
The comparative weight and height distributions for this
age group are shown in the following tables.