PHYSICAL DEFECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22909, 11 December 1937, Page 17

PHYSICAL DEFECTS

REVELATIONS AT SCHOOL CHILDREN'S DIET AT FAULT MEDICAL OFFICER'S COMMENT [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday That she had found no fewer than seven out of. every 10 children with dcfiuito defects in development that could bo attributed only to the type of food consumed was reported to the Terrace End School, Palmerston North, by Dr. Ada Platts-Mills, schools medical officer.

A marked excess of starchy foods was revealed by an inspection of the children's lunches. Of roughly 60 seen, the greater number consisted of white bread with butter and jam, biscuits and cake. Meat pies were seen in about a dozen instances and fish and chips in about half as many. In one case a plain sugar bun was c&nsidered sufficient.

Tho substitution of wholemeal bread for white bread was definitely found to improve the nutrition of children, said Dr. Platts-Mills, but the addition of other material foods was essential to full growth and development and improving the structure of the teeth.

"Parents should take an increased interest in the diet of their children," Dr. Platts-Mills declares. "The general attitude is one of apathy. If it was possible to demonstrate the defects to parents there would be very much more interest than is tho case at present."