The June/July, 1922 issue of American Cookery magazine had a book review for a book called Nutrition and Growth in Children by William R.P. Emerson that piqued my interest, so I googled it. I was please to discover that the book is available online:
Nutrition and Growth in Children
Here’s the hundred-year-old book review that was in American Cookery:
One-third of all the children in the United States are underweight or under-nourished or malnourished. This condition is limited to no locality, and to no social class. It is as prevalent in the North, as in the South, in the country as in the city, in the homes of the rich as in the slums. It is a condition baneful of the well-being of our children and dangerous to the health of our future men and women. Malnutrition in children is now recognized as the greatest single problem affecting our national health.
Dr. Emerson, nationally known as a pioneer in nutrition work, and the first to lay proper emphasis on the other important factors because besides diet, here offers to parents, teachers, social workers, and physicians the results of his rich and successful experience. In simple, practical terms he describes the causes of malnutrition in growing children and shows how the condition may be detected. He describes fully the methods of cure, which involve problems of physical defects, fatigue, home control and health habit, as well as diet and good habits. Finally, he outlines a complete and practical nutrition program for the home, the school, and the community.
This is a thoroughly practical and scientific treatment of a subject of far reaching importance.
American Cookery (June/July, 1922)
Here is part of the book’s preface:
And, here is a chart in the book showing why one girl’s growth was off-track for a short time:
A Hundred Years Ago 
One-third is an eye popping opening. Seems so intractable even as we advance our foods knowledge and preserving abilities.
Very interesting.
The malnutrition children are experiencing today is in the form of obesity.
I know when I was growing up in the 60s, we were always encouraged to eat more and clean our plates. I agree that we have gone in the opposite direction to obesity.
Yikes! Does that mean I should delete oatmeal from my diet as a weight-gainer?
This is so interesting. I forwarded it to Adler Graduate School in case someone teaching related courses might want to share it with the class. I certainly would if I were still teaching.
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That was the year my mother was born and she stayed quite underweight despite focus on feeding her. I know that thin kids were worried about and pudgy kids seen as healthy.
Interesting how the tables have turned in just 100 years and not for the better I may add…