[Somatic characteristics of Warsaw children, 3 1/2 to 7 years old (authors's transl)].

Anthropometric measurements of 1031 children, 3 1/2 to 7 years old, were carried out in Warsaw in 1970. The data collected characterize the present state of the physical development of Warsaw children in the aforesaid age interval. Arithmetic means and standard deviations were calculated for 13 somatic traits (body height) and weight, length of lower and upper extremities; length of the trunk; shoulder and hip width; chest circumference, width and depth, head circumference; width of distal femoral epiphysis, and subscapular skinfold) (Tables I to V). They have become the basis for drawing diagrams for the graphic method of assessing the level of development of these traits. Besides, the differences between the somatic traits found by examining Warsaw children in 1959, and the traits obtained in 1970 were analysed (Fig. 1 and 2). It results from this analysis that the children examined in 1970 were taller and heavier, and that there were also differences between the other parameters. This justifies the need to bring data of this kind up-to-date. A comparison of the body height and weight of children of Warsaw, and those of two other Polish cities (Lublin and Szczecin) and of rural children (Fig. 11 and 12) show a considerable predominance of Warsaw children; this confirms the necessity to work out regional standards of somatic development.