The National Study of Health and Growth: nutritional surveillance of primary school children from 1972 to 1981 with special reference to unemployment and social class.

The height, weight for height and triceps skinfold of primary school children in England and Scotland in 1972 and 1981 were compared. Children of both sexes aged 5 to 11 years were taller in 1981 than in 1972. The median triceps skinfold and the percentage of children above the 90th centile of the 1972 distribution also increased, more consistently in boys than in girls. Children with fathers who were unemployed at the time of the survey were taller in 1981 than were the corresponding group in 1972. The difference in height between children whose fathers were unemployed and those who were employed was less in 1981 than it was in 1972, significantly in girls and almost significantly in boys. These findings illustrate that this surveillance system in the UK can document changes in the pattern of growth of children over a short period of time.