The health of a population is most accurately reflected in the growth of its children. Naturally, child growth, in all its aspects, is of priority concern to the World Health Organization. The origin of this book lies in the Human Adaptability section of the International Biological Programme: the authors, working at the Institute of Child Health of the University of London and using various resources of WHO and UNICEF, collated contemporary data on the growth and maturation of children gathered by physicians and anthropologists all over the world. The result was published in 1976 as the first edition of Worldwide Variation in Human Growth. Since that time, the collection of data has not only continued, but in most parts of the world increased. The methods of collection of growth data, largely due to the influence of the book, have become more sophisticated and the scope of inquiry more extensive. Now the distinguished authors have brought together these new data, covering 1976- 1988, in a second or companion edition.

Dr Eveleth and Professor Tanner have assembled by far the largest series of growth data, and given a judicious analysis of the complex issues involved in growth and maturation in different parts of the world, factors influencing them, and trends over time. One of their main preoccupations has been to disentangle the effects of environment and heredity on growth. The book provides fascinating reading with practical tips explained in simple terms, for those who plan to conduct different kinds of growth studies and surveys, as well as those interested in public health implications of measuring growth and maturation of individuals and population groups.