Nutritional improvement in Hokkaido orphanage children--1960-1970.

In 1960, a survey showed Japanese orphanage children to be shorter in stature than Japanese children in general. In 1964, food budgets for orphanages were increased and, on Hokkaido, 180 gm. milk per day was made available for each child. In 1968, a further improvement in the diet was made by providing for an egg a day for each child, plus more liberal money allowances. Data from surveys in 1965 and 1970 on food served to these children reflected the improvements, as compared with 1960, Figures on the stature of the orphanage children were also compared. By 1970, the only orphanage children falling below the national mean were the teen-age boys and, to a lesser extent, the adolescent girls. Weight differences in all three surveys were less striking.