Weight

From observation made of a great number of cases by authorities the average weight for girls at birth is a little over seven pounds, while that of boys is about seven and a half pounds. Some weigh more, some less. There is a loss of weight the first three days, this being greatest the first day. After the third day the child begins gradually to increase in weight and by the tenth day will have gained all that was lost the first three days, reaching the birth-weight about the tenth day. The artificially fed babies gain more slowly, even though they may be perfectly healthy and vigorous. The greatest increase that is made in the weight of children the first year is during the first three months. Normally the average child will gain from five to six ounces each week during the first six months, but only about half this much the second six months. The data given here must be considered only as an average, no standard can be set, but the variation must be within certain limits, otherwise it will be indicative of abnormality.

During the first two years the weight of children is considered with reference to age, but after this it is studied with relation to height. This latter method is much more accurate. The age, however, must always enter into the consideration, for of two children of the same height but of different ages the older should be the heavier. There is much less variation in weight with reference to height than with reference to age. Normal weight differs with different individuals and is governed by various conditions so that a stated weight can not be decided upon as normal in all cases. The degree of deviation from the average weight that one may experience and still be within the normal range is a matter of opinion. If the weight of the child is more than 10% below the average for his height it is a fair indication that there is a lack of proper nutrition, either because he does not have proper food or because the tissues can not assimilate the nutrition due to interference with transmission. In a case of this kind the child should be carefully analyzed and adjusted. The disturbance may be in the digestive tract or due to an impairment in the serous circulation.

Children twelve years of age and over gain less regularly and more spasmodically. For this reason there will be a greater degree of variation at this age. The weight may fall as much at 12% below the average and still the child not be considered underweight, or as much as 20% above the average before being considered overweight. If an observation of the weight is to be of any value it must be made over a period of time. The important thing is to observe whether or not there has been a gain in weight over that period of time. Loss of weight over a period of time indicates that Innate is compelled to draw upon the physical in her processes and that there is no new material with which to replace the old. This is a warning from Innate that should be heeded. The following table will give the idea of the average weight for the given height of the child.

This table is based upon a general average taken from various authentic sources and is for the purpose of giving the chiropractor a general basis upon which to make observations in growing children. The average weight is given with relation to the average height and approximate age from the second to the sixteenth year of life inclusive.

Separate weights have not been given for boys and girls. The average weight of boys is about two pounds heavier than that of girls at the same age up to about the thirteenth year. From fourteen to sixteen years of age the average weight of girls is from three to ten pounds above that of boys. The greatest increase in the weight of girls takes place between the thirteenth and fourteenth year, while with boys this increase is between the sixteenth and seventeenth year.

APPROXIMATE		AVERAGE				AVERAGE
AGE		HEIGHT				WEIGHT
2	yrs.	2	ft.	9½	in.	27.5	lbs.
3	”	3	”	0	”	32.2	”
4	”	3	”	4	”	37.3	”
5	”	3	”	5	”	40.5	”
6	”	3	”	7	”	44.2	”
7	”	3	”	9	”	48.6	”
8	”	3	”	11	”	54.0	”
9	”	4	”	1	”	58.8	”
10	”	4	”	3	”	64.8	”
11	”	4	”	5	”	70.6	”
12	”	4	”	7	”	77.2	”
13	”	4	”	9	”	90.3	”
14	”	5	”	0	”	101.9	”
15	”	5	”	2	”	111.5	”
16	”	5	”	3	”	118.8	”

The following table compiled by A. B. Hender, M. D., D. C., Ph. C., Dean of the Faculty of The Palmer School of Chiropractic, gives the average weight of the child from birth to one year of age. Dr. Hender has had years of experience as an obstetrician, and is well known to the chiropractic profession. These statistics are compiled by him from personal observation made of over 5,000 children, covering a period of over twenty-five years of active practice as an obstetrician.

AGE	WEIGHT			AGE	WEIGHT
1st mo.	7	to	10 lbs.	7th mo.	14	to	17	lbs.
2nd ”	8	”	11 ”	8th ”	15	”	18	”
3rd ”	10	”	13 ”	9th ”	17	”	19	”
4th ”	12	”	14 ”	10th ”	18	”	20	”
5th ”	13	”	15 ”	11th ”	19	”	21	”
6th ”	13	”	16 ”	12th ”	20	”	24	”