New Study Reveals: Do Taller People Live Longer?
Researchers examining changes in human height around the globe have discovered where the tallest men and women reside. Also: Which country has lost the most height over the years, and where does Israel rank?
A new article recently published in the journal eLife presents research led by Imperial College London, surveying changes in human height on Earth over the 100 years from 1914 to 2014. The study reveals that at the bottom of the table are poor countries in Africa, South America, and the Far East, indicating that genetics isn’t the only factor influencing growth, but also environment and nutrition.
The study also highlights significant changes in height indices over the years. For example, Americans, once considered among the tallest on earth, ranked third in men and fourth in women, have fallen to 37th in men and 42nd in women!
Conducted with the participation of the World Health Organization, the study included data from global military records, nutrition surveys, and various epidemiological data. With this data, the researchers calculated the average height of 18-year-olds in 1914 and compared it to 18-year-olds in 2014.
The study finds that height significantly impacts life expectancy. Taller individuals were found to live longer, receive better education, and earn better wages. However, it was also found that taller individuals have an increased risk of ovarian and prostate cancer.
Researchers highlight that the environmental impact on height is more substantial than previously believed, as genetic factors were previously thought to play a more significant role. The study clearly shows that children and adolescents with adequate nutrition and better environmental conditions tend to be taller. Additionally, the nutrition a fetus receives in the womb has a profound impact on a child’s future growth and development.
So, according to the study, who are considered the tallest, and what is their average height? Men in the Netherlands, with an average height of 182.5 cm. Among women, Latvian women are considered the tallest, with an average height of 170 cm.
And who are the shortest in the global ranking? Men from East Timor, with an average height of 160 cm. Similarly, the shortest women globally live in Guatemala, with an average height of only 149 cm.
If you're curious about where Israel ranks globally in height, they're fairly average. Men are ranked 39th, while women are ranked 62nd.
