Effects of social class differences and social mobility on growth in height, weight and body mass index in a British cohort.

By longitudinally linking follow-up restudies of the National Child Development Study it has been possible to examine not only the well-known association of social class with the size of the child, but also with longitudinal growth, and, in addition the effect of social mobility on growth. The relation of type of occupation of the male head of household to height and weight of the child is seen at all ages (7, 11 and 16) but class influence on growth from 7 years onward is minimal. Social mobility is a significant factor especially in relation to stature but is not significantly related to growth after age 7 so the effect of underlying conditions on the children precedes the change of type of occupation by their fathers.