[Report 1968] / School Medical Officer of Health, Worcester City.

  • Worcester (England). City Council.
Date:
1968
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1968] / School Medical Officer of Health, Worcester City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/60 (page 8)
    PHYSICAL CONDITION OF PUPILS The standard of physical fitness of Worcester children is satisfactory and they are generally sensibly dressed and shod. This does not mean that opportunities do not exist for improve¬ ments or that in a small proportion of cases children are poorly cared for. The rising material standards of an affluent society mean that many mothers take on work and leave the house in the mornings before their children. A recent survey in the London area shows that large numbers of children eat little or no break¬ fast and as a result show little enthusiasm for lessons until they have eaten their school dinners. Pocket money is readily available and even more readily convertible into sweets, chocolates and biscuits. Faulty dietary habits are bred in this way, and by eating too much of the wrong kind of food a child can soon become overweight. Obesity is a very common finding in our school children. Eating less is often uncomfortable, but it is better to accept some small discomfort at the present time than to run the greatly increased risk of contracing such diseases as coronary thrombosis or diabetes in later life. The School Health Service can detect and often treat con¬ ditions found in school children; it can also, by a comprehensive programme of health education, prevent others developing. From past experience we know that this is not an easy task, but it is a challenge which we cannot ignore if we are to ensure that tomorrow’s citizens enjoy a healthy life.