Heights and weights of primary schoolchildren in St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, West Indies

ABSTRACT

The heights and weights of 4,700 primary schoolchildren, predominantly of African origin and from lower socio-economic groups, aged 5-15 years were measured in St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla, typical islands in the Eastern Caribbean. The children resembled Jamaican children in size; they were bigger than London children measured in 1905-1912 and smaller than London children in 1959. Children in St. Kitts over 10 years were slightly bigger than those measured in a survey in 1954 but no consistent changes had occurred among younger children, a disapointing finding in view of the stress laid on child care and nutrition in recent years. The importance of collecting anthropometric data to establish standards for future comparisons is stressed.(Summary)