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The nutritional status of poor children in London
Insights
Poor inner-city children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Child Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Inner-city poverty poses risks to child growth and development.
- Diet, health, and socioeconomic factors are crucial for children's well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between growth, diet, health, and sociological background in underprivileged children.
- To identify children at risk for growth deficiencies.
Main Methods:
- Screened 1000 households in poor London areas (1973-1976).
- Included 231 children (ages 1-12) from 112 families in the survey.
- Assessed height, dietary intake, and family food expenditure.
Main Results:
- 21% of white children fell below the 10th percentile for height.
- Shortest children had a mean energy intake of 72% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI).
- 33% of children were below the 10th percentile for height, with half of families spending ≤£4.80/person/week on food.
Conclusions:
- Dietary deficiencies are linked to poor growth in inner-city children.
- Remedial feeding programs could benefit at-risk children.
- Addressing socioeconomic factors is vital for child development.
Abstract:
Concern for the growth and development of poor inner-city children prompted an investigation of the relationship of growth to diet, health and sociological background. Between 1973 and 1976, 1000 households in poor areas of London were screened for at-risk children between the ages of one and 12 years. Two hundred and thirty-one children from 112 families qualified for the survey. Of the white children, 21 per cent fell below the 10th percentile for height. The mean energy intake of the shortest children was 72 per cent of the RDI. Half the families spent 4.80 pounds or less per person per week on food, and 33 per cent of the children fell below the 10th percentile for height. A remedial feeding programme may be of benefit to these and similar children.