Height is an important aspect of appearance and can have certain effects on an individual’s health.
In the United States, the average height for men is about 5 feet 9 inches (~ 1.75 m), while for women it is about 5 feet 4 inches (~ 1.63 m). Having a height above or below the average comes with its own advantages and disadvantages due to appearance, and height is also related to health, as it may not directly cause health issues, but many studies suggest it can reflect the risk levels for certain problems.
1. The connection with cancer
Some studies show that below-average height may be associated with a reduced likelihood of developing certain types of cancer. For example, a study conducted on over 100,000 women in Europe and North America found that women of shorter stature had a lower chance of developing ovarian cancer. Another study on more than 9,000 men in the UK aged 50 to 69 found that those with shorter height also had a lower risk of prostate cancer.
2. The connection with diabetes
Leg length may have a relationship with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Based on 5 years of data from over 6000 adults, scientists believe that taller individuals are at a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. It is still unclear why these two factors are related, but one hypothesis suggests that shorter height may be a sign of poor nutrition or some metabolic issues before birth or during childhood.
3. The connection with cardiovascular diseases
Scientists are still uncertain about the reasons, but individuals shorter than 5 feet 3 inches (~ 1.60 m) face more than a 50% higher risk of developing coronary artery disease compared to those who are 5 feet 8 inches (~ 1.73 m) or taller. The cause, according to the hypothesis, is likely related to poor nutritional status or infections occurring before birth or during childhood, which affect development. Additionally, genetic factors may play a role in both height and the risk of cardiovascular diseases throughout life.
4. The relationship with stroke
Stroke occurs when blood flow to a specific area of the brain is abruptly reduced. Taller individuals are less likely to suffer from strokes, particularly if these individuals maintain a reasonable weight. Nutrition and other health-related issues in childhood that affect height may explain this phenomenon.
5. The relationship with vascular thrombosis
Vascular thrombosis is a serious condition, especially when a blood clot forms in a large blood vessel or travels to the lungs. The exact reason is not yet clear, but studies show that the shorter the height, the less likely vascular thrombosis is to occur. Individuals who are 5 feet (approximately 1.52 m) tall or shorter are at the lowest risk for vascular thrombosis.
6. The relationship with Alzheimer’s disease
Greater height is advantageous concerning this form of dementia, particularly in men. A study involving over 500 individuals found that men over 5 feet 11 inches (approximately 1.80 m) tall have a 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who are 5 feet 7 inches (approximately 1.70 m) tall or shorter. While taller women may also have a lower likelihood of developing the disease, the correlation between Alzheimer’s and height in women is not as strong as in men.
7. Relationship with Pregnancy
Taller women tend to have longer pregnancies compared to shorter women. In a study, pregnant women who were 5 feet (~ 1.52 m) or shorter often went into labor before full term more than pregnant women who were 5 feet 8 inches (~ 1.73 m) or taller. For every 1 cm difference in height between the two groups, the shorter pregnant women would go into labor earlier by approximately 1/5 of a day. The true cause of this phenomenon is not clear, but it may be related to the size of certain body parts, such as the pelvis or cervix.
8. Relationship with Hair Loss Issues
A study involving over 22,000 men from seven different countries indicated that shorter men face a higher risk of baldness. Researchers sought changes in certain genes that could increase the risk of early hair loss and ultimately identified four genes associated with male baldness and height.
9. Relationship with Longevity
Several studies over the years have shown that shorter individuals tend to live a little longer than taller ones and are less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses as they age. The reasons for this phenomenon are still being investigated, but the aspects that are of most interest include the damage affecting cells over time, the levels of certain hormones, and the size of some organs, such as the brain, liver, and kidneys.
10. The relationship with temperature sensitivity
Shorter individuals are less affected by overheating (and more severe cases of heat shock) compared to taller individuals. The main reason for this phenomenon is that taller people, who are often heavier, generate more body heat, and when the rate of heat production exceeds the rate of heat dissipation, as in the case of intense exercise, overheating or heat shock will occur. However, this issue has two sides; in cold weather, taller individuals tend to feel warmer than shorter individuals for the same reasons.
11. The relationship with lower back and thigh issues
Shorter individuals generally experience fewer lower back pains or thigh fractures compared to taller individuals. A reasonable explanation for the incidence of thigh fractures is that taller individuals have a higher center of gravity, thus increasing the likelihood of thigh fractures.
