Caloric and protein intakes of children between 1 and 18 years of age

The cross-sectional distributions of the data on total caloric and protein intakes for the 64 girls and 61 boys in the Maturity Series from 1 to 18 years are presented in Figure 1 and Table I, and the findings are discussed. Wide variation with age and sex are evident. The accompanying graphs present the types and amounts of difference and similarity found in individual curves within a given pattern in contrast to those in other patterns. For example, caloric intakes of boys in the "consistently high," "consistently medium" and "consistently low" groups generally conform to the cross-sectional norm for the boys in the Maturity Series with regard to rate of change in intake from year to year. However, very wide differences are shown among these groups in overall level of intake. See, for example, Boys 270 (HHH), 253 (MMM) and 196 (LLL). The boys in the other pattern groups, in contrast, change their levels of caloric intake appreciably from one age interval to another in relation to the norm. There are marked inter-pattern differences in direction of change, for example, see Case 140 (MLL) in the "early drop" group in contrast to Case 32 (LHH) in the "early rise" group. There are also marked inter-pattern differences in the timing of these changes, for example, see Case 30 (MHH) in the "early rise" group and Case 283 (MMH) in the "late rise" group. The "late drop" group, see Case 220 (MML), can be similarly compared to the "early drop" group for difference in timing of change and to the "late rise" group for difference in direction of change. [See Fig. 3. in Source Pdf] These graphs call attention to the fact that two distinct patterns of intake, not identified among the boys, are encountered among the girls, i.e., intake patterns manifesting a "consistent rise" and patterns manifesting a "consistent drop" in intake in relation to the norm. Because so few cases fell within these patterns, they are presented together. Girls 10 and 118 show a low caloric intake in the early age interval in relation to the Maturity Series distribution, but change their levels to rank medium in the middle, and high in the last, age interval. The intakes of Cases 239 and 240 are opposite in direction of change. The "early rise and late drop" and "early drop and late rise" categories serve to illustrate further inter-pattern differences as well as similarities. Cases 163 (LHL) and 180 (MLM) typify the differences between these two pattern groups. It is also interesting to note th