Human height

Humanheight- Wikipedia.the freeencyclopedia
PageI of 17
Human height
FromWikipedi4thefreeencyclopedia
Human height, or how tall peoplebecome,generallyvarieslittle betweenpeoplecomparedto otheranthropometricmeasures.Exceptional
height variation(around20o%deviationfrom average)is usuallydueto gigantismor dwarfism.
Adult height for one sexin a particularethnicgroup follows more or lessa normaldistribution.
Contents
1 Averageadult heighl aroundthe world
'
r 2 HumanHeight Distribution (USA)
r 3 Determinantsofgrc*th and height
r 3.1Raceandheight
r 4 Processof gro\r'th
. 5 Height abnomalities
r 6 Role of an individual'sheight
r 7 Theroleofheightin spolts
r 7.1Soccer
. 7.2Cricket
r 7.3Rugby
r 7.4Football
. 7.5Basketball
r 7.6 Baseball
r 8 Hisroryofhurnanheight
r 9 Bibliography
. 9.1References
r l0 Seealso
. ll Extemallinl.s
Averageadult height around the world
Below are averageadult heightsby counfy. (The original studiesand sourcesshouldbe consultedfor detailson methodologyandthe exact
populationsmeasured,surveyed,or considered.)
Imperial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiwHuman
height
11112008
Humanbeight- Wikipedia-tbefreeencyclopedia
Metric system
Page2 of 17
Eyrtem
:::
Males FemalesMalesFcmrles 1i::119"
Coutrtry/Regiotr
sartrpleo
t1)n
Ar genri na
:-'"
cm
-
Augtauta
tff
16lc m ; 1 .
,.-.'': . --
ErM.
lanaoa
6./ m rn
si
s fr4.2 18-24
m
cm
Lv,z
..
In
S c iEoT A r g e n r i 1
n2
a 0 0 5 y' 1 1
,. s
(me€sureo)
5ft10 5ff5.5 18- 24
m
In
{mea$req)
ddr.
P,
lBUt(2u05)
(hnp://wvr'w.anp€c.org.b/enconho2005/anigos/A05A
I 59.pdl
168.99 158.0
5n
5ft2.2
cm
b-:r rn
In
174.0 161.0
5 tr
cm
6.)tn
adult
s- ^^,
h 3.4 ---".
.DooutauoD t'
cm
cm
164.8 154.5
cm
cm
c z echR e' o u b l i c
1 8 0 3 1 6 73
cm
cm
ueruralK
180.9 169.1
cm
cm
(measwed) Folhade SP
I'
( measrreq,
< ff
:."^
I t.2
1856
6fil
D i n a ri cA l 'cmtnln
D
s
l
7
l
cm
'cmtn l n
,
.-^.
r?a !
I
i5ft0.8 i30-65
5ft
;CHNS(1997)
4.8in ,in
i(measured) i(http://aj€.oxfordjoumals.org/cgi/reprint/155/4/346.pdf)
5ft ll 5ff60
J8
.. Btabaer a/.2 005
(measweoi
m
m
(measweoJ
riln
:l rnl
DOOtllaUOn
:^tr^ 5 fl 5.0 18-24(self
ro) cm ru.y
repo[eo]
.u1
in
.Li^.rDa.\
cm
ln
I
:5 t
L anaca
E$onia
.
,.
(me,lstrleo)
174.8 163.9 ::'^
l8o
cm
:
ra
j" ' - . l'
cm
1 7 8 .0 1 6 6.0
cm
cm
t'elqruln
.5a14
Source
5 ff 6.6 19
u
m
(conscnprsJ
5fi73
n
o
rJ5Irf t
10.5
:- -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanheight
i
17
ff
1/1/2008
tmlano
rflnlano
tnlano
_
f m nce
^
trance
176.7 163.5 5ff
cm
5ft4.J
.
v.J m m
cm
178.2 164.'1 5 n l0
cm cmmm
rtlt
a
<*
i161.8
r'13.2:t<t
5ft
.
:Cm
-. m
cm
Cm
cm
la.l
d.lm
a
1 7 5 .7 t62.5 i<5ft
cm
a
5 ft 4.7 15-64ts€lf
;;;6"
-^-^-^r,
5ft3.7
a
m
5ft4.0
n
e,zIn ut
cm
1 7 8 . 1 ..5 fl 1 0 5 ft4 .9 entir e
^
uenna[v
.
'. c ml n 1 n p o p u r alo)
u ocm
n
^
cemarv
-c mu I
l c e l and
tsraer
l8l
p
p
5 ffl t
167cm : -' '
s
5 n 6 in 18-19(2005) s
sg
5
ff
l 8 l 7 1676
cm
cm
iis
5ff6i n 2 0
cc
ln
175.6 162.8 5ft
5ff4)
cm
v.r m In
cm
2:-22
toeTween yiqlo_lnoo,
ltal y -Mid d l e & l ' 1 6 . 9 1 6 3 .2 5 ft
5 R 4 .2 2O( between
\accBn
^...... er ar' zuul
9.5in in
North
cm
cm
1994-2000)
luuv - 50u1n
ltorea- )ouul
Kofea sourn
174.2 160.8
cm
cm
t58.925 ff 7.8
cm
In
1 7 3 .6 16l .1
5n
5n 3.3
E.0in in
:
5 ft.
20-24 m2
z.oIn
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x4rn
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aa
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ln
i
Korea.)ouin
20(between
lq94-2000)
http://en.wikipedia.orglwilVHuman
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tl9
';
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examlnalton
t'
ror
conscnpuon
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Lithuania
.
Maha
"16S
cm
g.4in :
l2o
5ft2.6
all adult
- cm :5ftl.
: ' - - -' -:-::
159
popuarron
o.J m In
',
r ?a r 161!
cm cm mt'l
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tfio
:"'
5ff4{
:"'
2 5 -3 4
1788 1 6 7l
N et h ertandscm cm ln
?f,
Netherlands cm
llot
:to-ro
13,u.um il-ou'
In
l9t
cm
sRs7
r
z
z
a
m
l'77'o' 1 6 5 0 l l . , r o t t , tn - o t
N ewZeal a nd .cm
9.t tn
,cm
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,oweo zoooru o"lfr(http://dined.io.tudelftr
/rldined2oo4h)l
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k
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Norwav
'
l'?e9 1672 idi
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Philippines
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5 fl
172.0 . .^
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5ftlin
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suwey
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ln
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'ft:5
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cm
.
5R
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' 20- 3q
5ThNational
Nutrition
Survey
(measured)
4,J rn
+.1
i' ir,"
1n
tr"*r*"a,
lft
;
rin
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Sirgapore
Sirp,apore
18- 19
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,",n
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Ift5q
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eral 2003
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-
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reff)rted)
(^^:-
spaln
fii.l
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164.3
5 ft
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i/Humanheisht
5 ft 4.6 18-29(self
o
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.
f ataloma- sDaln
'
Madrid-Soain
cm
cm
1 7 3 .0 .-.
9.7in in
reponed)
5ft8 5n4.6 1 8
cm
t11o
' ' ' '" 164
-' cm
cm
(measweo)
ln
m
sft
5 ft4 .6 l8
-^',
(measured)
9.7 in in
lb4 cm
x
t ' 1 7 . 0 ...
5 ft
5 ft4 .6 18
lo.t cm ^9./-.
.. x
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cm
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.. x
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zaragoza.sparn
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^uallcla.JDaln
'
Sweden
SFrUernno
, Switzerland
I arw an
tRn?
sff57.
5ft5.7 , - ,
-1
-8"-0 .2 ".rez".
t67cm :^..^
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10.9 ; 16-24
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cm
1ff2
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lnft5j
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1 7 5 .5 164.0 5ft9 5ft3.8
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statistiska
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5ft3.5 enrire
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unrtedKrngoom
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populatlon
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5 ft4 .1
t 7 7 . 3 1 6 3 .0 sft
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cm
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cm
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v
t75.8 162.s : I
s ff.3.772Ot
v.zm m
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io
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Atnencans
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki,4luman_h€ight
| /tD008
Pageo of 17
Humanheight - Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia
usA
17e.25
16s0s 10.6 sr si.
.-.-- sR
I7 8 .2 2t6 -J.65
;^"
tv.2
cm
cm
in
.*,,
i " -'
ln
"'
&'jiir"ol sc
' 80- 83bom
ntiicane!.
Americans
a= Cavelaars
et al 2000*
b = kumbe.net**
c = 'FittingtheTaskto theMan'
ger= Officialsratistics
O{ficeofCennany(http://www.destatis.de,/basis/d/gesdgesutab8.php)
ot theFedemlStatistical
=69-134&D2=(1-1
(http://siatline.cbs.nl/Statweb/table.asp?PA=7068eng&Dl
1)d = Netherlands
CentralBureaulor Statistics,2000
l&DM=SLEN&LA=en&TT=2)
e = EurostatsStatisticalYearbook2004
Norway2006[2] (http://www.ssb.no/aarbol/tab/tab-104.htm1)
f= Statistics
g = ABS How Australians
MeasueUp 1995data
F4A36/$File/43
590_1
995.pdf)
(hfip://www.ausstats.abs.gov.aulAusstats/subscriber.ns?Lookup/CA2
568?100069892CA25688900I
1997
h - LeidenUnivenityMedicalCentre
(http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data./ad/ad347.pdf)
i = MeanBodyweight,Height,andBodyMassIndex1960-2002
j, = 2005canadiancommunityHealthSurvey3.1 (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2006I 2-04-size-age-x.htm)
j = Canadian
Institule(httpr//www.cflri.ca./pdfle/pipl5.pdt)
FihessandLilestyleResearch
NZ Normsfor Anthropometric
Data1993****(http://www.osh.govt.nz]order/catalogue/pd7musclk - (page60) SizeandShapeofNew Zealanders:
kr.pdt)
(hfip://www.scb.se/templates/tableorchart_47966.asp)
I = Statistics
Sweden
Cultue,Sports,Science
andTechnology[3]
m':= OfncialStatistics
by Ministryof Education,
gojpA menu,41otdou,/1
(http://www.mext.
8/10/06100304/003/002.pdt)
2006
n = UFIH(FrcnchUnionofclothing lndustries)
2003
o = SigmaDosStatistics
ulkaisut/julkaisusarja_b/2004b
I3.pdfJ
p = NarionalPublicHealthlnstitute(Finland)(h1tp://www.ktl.fi/attachments/suomi4
q = (Fulltextsourceis pay,liststhestatjstics
asbasedonthesercgions:Dalmatia(Split,Sibenik,Dmis,Sinj,Imotski,Vrgorac)andHercegovina
(Mostar,Trebinje,Konjic)Dynamique
humaine2005(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entre/query.fcgi?
deI'evolution
uids=l6l68365&doDt=Abstract)
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list
daraandph)sicalfitnessofLithuaniansoldiers(hfip://medicina.kmu.ltl0601/0601-ose.pdf)
r = VISUOMENESSVEIKATAAnthropomerrical
=
s [4] (http://www.destatis.de4etspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/lntemerDEDresse/pv2006,Mikrozensus/Pressebroschuere,property=file.pdO
characteristics
accordingto the sociodemographic
for determining
theeligibilityofyoungmenfor mililaryservice.
s = Committee
u = [5] (http://www.dst.dk/asp2xml/puk/udgivelser/get_file.asp?id=9335&sid-Pop)
thsryeng2004upd/04TrendTabs.xls/file)
v - HealthSurveyfor England2004(http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs,4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanheight
l/1/2008
Human height - Wikipedi4 the free encyclopedia
Page7 of 17
x = Vall d'HebronHospitalpediatricstudyaboutl8-year-oldSpaniads,datedin 2004,andothervaluesmentioned
in thearticlebelow.
(h$p://uwwjacn.org/cg\lrcpintl23
y = (a studymadebenveen
theyears1980-2000)
/ USl'!
ma{toshow=&HITS=10&hits=1o&RESulTFoRMAT=&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&fulltext=HeightRelated+Changes+in+Body+Mass+Index%
3A+A+Reappmisal+&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=o&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT)
z = 2003study(https://secure.gov.mvnso/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=573).
A 2007Eurostatstudyrevealed
thesamercsults- theaverage
Maltese
(5'4.9")compared
personis 164.9cm
to theEU average
of 169.6crn(5'6.7").
(httpr/www.kosis.kr/eng/e
1970-2004
aa= Koreanstatistical
inlormationsystem(between)
stat OLAPjsp?
YN=Y&lang-modFeng)Source:Ministry
tbl_id=DT_1P12&org
id=l12&vwcd:MT ETITLE&path=&oper
ofEducationandHumanResouces
Development[korea]
ofprimary& secondary
students
Pdffile (http://pub.paran.corn/surgus/Sc.pdo
aaL= Physique
aa' = Empasnews(http://news.empas.con/show.tsp/cp_kh./20060512n06861/'7kw=20%Bco/oBc%20o/o3cbo/o3E%26%3co/ozFb%38%20%C6o/oF
(websitein Korean)
B1%D5%20%3Cb%38%26%3Co/AFbo/.3Eo/"20o/oBD%Cs%C0%E5%20%3Cbo/o3E%26%3C%2Fb%3E)
Korea)
ar = MMA (Military ManpowerAdministation) Whitebook2004^{ (http:/6log.daum.nevsurgus/?_top_blogtop=go2myblogxsouth
bb = MinistryofEducation,
Republicof China(Taiwan)(http://epaper.edu.tw/news/960919/960919
003.htm)
girls(http:/,4b.
icemed.is/media/skjol/2000-07,08/2000-07-8-f4-TIjpg),
icemed.is/media,rskjol/2000-07_08/2000-07-8-f4cc: Icelandicboys(http://lb.
TItjps)
dd= Tend6ncias
do PesoemPortugalno Finaldo SdculoXX (http://www.actamedicapoftuguesa.con/pd
2004-l'7131205-2l0.pdt)
ee= [6] (http://www.ingentaconnect.
com/content/tandfltahb/
I 999/00000026/00000003/art00005)
ff = [7] (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B73DX-4CHRC52-1&,user:10&_coverDate-o1%2F31%
version=1&,urlversion=0&
2F2006&rdoc-l& fmF& orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&
userid-10&md5=400538aca29c1nc6,
gg = [8] (http://epub.
24I /01/underperformance.pdf)
ub.uni-m
uenchen.de/archive/00001
Notes:
height
a* Basedon selfreported
andnot measured
seethetalk pagefor moreinformation.
b** Somevaluesfromthissitehavebeendisputed,
j*** Basedon selfreportedandnotmeasured
height
k'r'rt**Basedon Britishnormsandtheirrelations
to NewZealandvalues
HumanHeightDistribution(USA)
'fable showingpercentilesmallerthan statedheight
Height(feet/inch)Height (cm) Male Female
4ff llin
l50cm
09o
4.600
5 ft Oin
l52cm
02% 9.7%
5ft lin
155cm
0.5% 17.'lo/r
5ft 2in
157cm
1.4% 28.90/"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanheight
||2008
Hurnan
height- Wilipedia-rhefreeenc)clopedia
5ft 3in
l60cm
5ft 4in
l63cm
5tt 5in
l 6 5 cm
5ft 6in
l68cm
5117in
170cm
5ft 8in
173cm
3.tvo 42.5%
6.4% 57.1%
11.9%70.6%
20% 8r.8%
30.7%89.'1%
43.3%91.7%
5ft 9in
175cm
56.80/"9'7.50/"
5fi loin
178cm
69.5%98.8%
5 f t l1 i n
180cm
80.t% 99.3Vo
6 f t Oi n
1 8 3 cm
88.2'/" 99.so/"
6ft l in
l85cm
93.6%99.6%
6ft 2in
l 8 8 cm
96.8%99.9%
6ft 3in
l90cm
98.60/"99.9%
6ft 4in
193cm
99.4% 99.9%
6ft 5in
1 9 5 cm
99.7% 99.99r/o
6ft 6in
198cm
99.9% 99.99%
Page8 of l7
- This datais basedon a sampleof 12,867peopleby theThird National
- Source(http://wu'w.shortsupport.orgResearcvanalyzer.html)
HealthandNutritionExamination
Surveybetween1988and1994.Studyis basedon Adultsbetween18and65 (men)and60 (women)
Determinantsof growth and height
The studyof hunan gro\athis known asauxology.Grorth and height
havelongbeenrecognized
asa measure
ofthe healthandwellnessof
individuals.hencepart of the reasoningfor the useof growth chalts.
For individuals,asindicatorsofhealthproblems,grovvthtrendsaretrackedfor significantdeviations
andgrowthis alsomonitoredfor
Geneticsis a majorfactorin determining
significantdeficiencyfrom geneticexpectations.
the heightofindividuals,thoughit is far less
influentialin regardto populations.
Averageheightis increasingly
usedasa measure
ofthe healthandwellness(standard
of living and
qualityof life) ofpopulations.
Attdbutedasa significantreasonfor thehendofiocreasingheightin pats of Europeis theegalitarian
populations
nutritionarerelativelyequallydistributed.
wherepropermedicalcareandadequate
Changes
in diet(nutrition)anda generaldse
ofliving arethecitedfactorsin theAsianpopulations.
Averageheightin theUnitedStateshasrcmaioed
in qualityof healthcareandstandard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human
height
1/l/2008
l{uman height - Wikipedia, the ftee encyclopedia
sincethe 1950s.Severemalnutritionis knownto
stagnant
essentially
poflions
ofAfrican.cenain
smnledgowlh in NonhKorean.
cause
historicalEuropean,andotherpopulations.Diet (in additionto leeded
nutdents;suchthings asjunk food andattendanthealthp.oblemssuch
Page9 of 17
25
g. 20
;rs
I
o
I
E r0
I
I
I
l
,,
o5
I
o
0
2
4
0
12 14 16 18 20
810
Ags In Years
o""*o'""tn"ff;"tJ:S',:l"i.Xtlll:1;p"*u'"o"on'on'
andeven
Rulefor example),
climate(seeAllen'sruleandBergmann's
fitness,pollutionexposue,sleeppatterns,
asobesity),exercise,
height'
happinesi(psychologicalwell-being) are otherfactorsthat canaffect growth ard final
ofgeneticsand
by a combination
lraits,determined
Heightis, like otherphenotypic
environmentalfactors.Geneticpotentialplus nutdtion minus stressorsis a basic
that a shortmotherwill more
formula.cenetically speaking,the heightsofmother and sonandoflather anddaughielconelate,suggesting
as infantsandtoddleN
likelv beara shorterson,andtall fatherswill havetall daughters,l2]Humansgrow fastest(other thar in the womb)
iili;ii;";;e;il;;
t;,i
between
throlghoutchildhood
growthvelocityoccurs
th"; a;.ng,trep,'6".tuigto*firrpuft.n slowerJteady
Theseare alsocritical periods
tt eseperiodi; andiome slow, steady,declininggro*th after the pubertalgrowth sput levels oITis common.
are optimal then gro{th
whercstressoFsuchasmalnutrition (or evenseverechild neglect)havethe greatesteffect. Conversely,ifconditions
poor conditionswhenthose
potentialis maximized;andalsothereis catch-upgrowth - which canbe significant for thoseexperiencing
conditionsimprove.
pregnancy,hasa role A
Moreover,the healthof a motherthroughouther life, especiallyduring her critical periods,and of courseduring
mothe/s healthis important
pregnant
healrhierchild andadult developsa body that is bettertble to provide optimal prenatalconditions.The
period areresolvedby catch-up
asgestationis itselfa critical period for an embryo/ferus,thoughsomeproblemsaffectingheight dudng this
healthover
gro-wthassumingchildhoodconditionsare good.Thus,thereis an accumulativegenerationeffect suchthat nutrition and
to varying degrees'
generationsinfluencesthe height of descendants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki,4lumanheight
1/l/2008
Page10of 17
Humanheight - wikipedi4 the ftee €ncyclopedia
The preciserelationshipbe$een geneticsand envilonmentis complexand
pollgenic
andha,beencon'idered
Humanheightis aOoiheritablelll
uncerutin.
l'l
ciandebatea hundredlears ago Theonly geneso
sincethe Mendelian-biomet
is onl) oneol many as
withnormalheightvaialionis HMGA2.This
faramibuted
forjust
confersan additional0.4cm' accounting
eachcopyofthe alleleconcemed
of populationvariance.l3l
0.30lo
Race and height
Seealso: Raceand heakh, R.lceafid intelligence,height and intelligence,and
heahhatulintelligekce
The Nilotic peoplesof Sudar suchasthe Dinka havebeendescribedasthe tallest in
the world, with the malesin somecommunitieshaving averageheightsof 1 9 m (6
li 3 in) andfemalesat 1.8m (5 ft 11in)[5].A notableexampleis ManuteBol, who,
at 23 im(7ft 7in). wasthe taliestbasketballplaver in the NBA Th€ Dinka are
charactetizedashaving long legs,narrowbodiesand shorttrunks,an adaptationto
hot weather[6].However,a 1995studycastsdoubton the claim ofextraordilary
height in Dinka, which after studyingthe averageheightofDinka malesin one
L/l
localion.listedtheactualnumberas 1.76m (5 ft 9.45in.) 46,t1t ot*ttt
heightof4ft 11in.
average
peopleshavean approximate
?
:l
aa
,{.
a
-
.,a a
a a.
!
I
'- d", L: t ina, : I t i, t t il
--
--t
, jF ir . . p5r t I 5 I f t l
relationship
(1889)datashowingthe
Galton's
Sir Francis
asafunclionof
offspingheight(928individuals)
betweeo
m€anparentheight(205setsofparents)He tability
ljne,0.57
(r^2) is equalto theslopeofthe regression
lived\tas Robert
At 2.57metres(g ft 5.5in), LeonidStadnykis theworld'stallestliving manandis from Ukaine. Thetallestmanthatever
pershingWadlowfrom Alron,Illinois,who wasbornin 1918andstood8 ft 11.1inches(2.72m) at thetime ofhis deathin 1940.Thetallest
man without a gro*th disorderis Bao Xishun at 2.361meuEs(7 lt 8 95 in) tall
Processof growth
by
Grcwth in stature,determinedby its variousfactors,resultsfrom the lengtheningofbones via cellular divisionschiefly r€gulated
the releaseof another
somatotopin (humangrowth hormone(hGH)) secretedby the anteriorpituitary gland.Somatotropinalsostimulates
tissues
ofthe body, have
on
most
growth inducinghormoneinsulinJike grorth factor 1 0GF-1) mainly by the liver. Both hormonesop€rate
gradually
irany otherfufiions, andcontinueto b€ s€cretedthroughoutlife; with peakl€velscoincidingwith peakgro*th velocity, and
during
sleep Exercise
the
largest
with
The bulk ofsecretionoccursin bursts(especiallyfor adolescents)
subsldingwith ageafter adolescence.
who take steroidscanexpedencestuntedgro th). A positive net nutition is alsoimportant,with
orornotessecretion.(indeed,adolescents
proteinsandvariousothernutrientsespeciallyimportant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-height
1t1/2008
thefreeenclclopedia
Humanheight- Wikipedia.
Pagell of 17
'llle majo ty oflineax gro\ th occursasgrowth ofcartilage at the epiphysis(ends)ofthe long boneswhich graduallyossi$ to form hard
bone.The legscomposeapproximatelyhalf ofadult humanheight,andleg lengthis a somewhatsexuallydimorphictrait. Height is also
attainedftom growth ofthe spine,and contraryto popularbelief, men arethe "leggier" sexvrith a longer l€g to torsoratio, converselyto
women'slongertorso to leg ratio. (The illusion ofthe proportionbeing the other way aroundis causedby fatty depositsplacedhigh on
women'ships.) Someofthis growth occursafter the growth spwt ofthe long boneshasceasedor slowed.The majodty of go\ath du ng
growth sputs is ofthe long bones.Additionally, the variationin height betweenpopulationsandacrosstime is largely dueto changesin leg
length.The remainderofheight consistsofthe cranium.Height is obviously sexuallydimorphicand statisticallyit is more or lessnormally
distributed,but with heary tails.
Height abnormalities
Mostinta-populationvarianceofheightis genetic.Shortstatueandtall statureareusuallynot a healthconcern.Ifthe degreeofdeviation
from normal is significant,hereditaryshortstatue is kno\anas familial shortstatue andtall statureis known asfamilial tall stature.
Confirinationthat exceptionalheight is normalfor a respectivepersoncanbe ascetainedftom compaxingstatue of family membersand
analyzinggrowth trendsfor abruptchanges,amongothers.Thereare,however,variousdiseasesand disordersthat causegrowth
abnomalities. Most notably,exteme heightmay be pathological,suchasgigantism(very rare)resultingfrom childhoodhyperpituitarism,
anddwarfismwhich hasvariouscauses.Rarely,no causecanbe found for exlremeheight;very shortpersonsmay be termedashaving
idiopathicshortstatue. The Foodaad Drug Administration(FDA) in 2003 approvedhGH teatment for those2.25 standarddeviationsbelow
the popLrlationmean(apprcximatelythe lowest L2% oftie population).An evenmrer occurrence,or at leastlessusedterm andrecognized
"problem",is idiopathictall stature.
lfnot enoughgrorth hormoneis producedand/orsecretedby the pituitary glaad,then a patientwith growrhhomone deficiencycanundergo
treatnent. This treatmentinvolvesthe injection of pure growth homone into thick tissueto jump-staft the growth process.
Role of an individual's height
healthand longevity (Njolstad
Tallnesshasbeensuggestedto be associatedwith bettercardio-vascularhealthandoverall better-than-average
et al. 1996,181McCarlon t ,96219).;.However,height may not be causativeof betterhealthand longevity (Miun er al 2002).Otherstudies
", or suggest
havefoundno association,
thatshorterstatureis associated
with betterhealth(Samaras
& Ehick. lqqgLLvl).
On theotherhand,
problems,
various
issues,
beingexcessively
tall cancause
medical
includingcardiovascula-r
dueto the increas€d
loadon theheartto supply
the body with blood, andissuesresultingftom the increasedtime it takesthe brain to communicatewith the extremities.For example,Robert
Wadlow, the tallestmanknown to verifiable history, developedwalking difficulties ashis height continuedto ircreasethroughouthis life. ln
manyofthe pictues ofthe laterportionofhis life, Wadlowcanbe seengrippingsometbing
for support.Latein his life he wasforcedto wear
braceson his legsandto walk with a cane,and he died after developingan infection in his legsbecausehe wasuoableto feel the ilritation
andcutting causedby his leg bmces(it is importantto notethat he died in 1940,beforethe widespreaduseofmodem antibiotics).Height
extemesofeitherexcessive
tallnessor shortness
cancausesocialexclusionanddiscrimination
for bothmenandwomen(heightism).
height
hnp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurnan
It/2008
Humanheight - Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia
Page12of 1'7
Epidemiologicalstudieshavealsodemonstrateda positive corelation betweenheight ard intelligence.The reasonsfor this associationappear
to include that height servesasa biomarkerofnutritional statusor generalmenial andphysicalhealthduring development,that common
geneticfacton may influenceboth height and intelligence,andthat both height andintelligenceare affectedby adverseearly environmental
exposures.
In addition,an individual'sheightcanbelargelya partofwhat socialclique,or groupthattheyfall in to, thoughthisis usuallyassociated
on thebasketball
teammightbe "cool",andthosewith shortstature
For example,in someschools,students
with pre-teens
ard teenagers.
woutdn'tlikely maLethe team.Therefore,in somecases,this could contdbuteto them being classifiedas "uncool",which canbe detrimental
to that particularindividual'sself-esteem.
This canalso sometimesbe tanslated over into the corporateworld. Individuals with shortstatue can sometimesappearto not haveany
leadershipability or power,sincesomepeoplemight not takethem se ously dueto thek shot stature.However,this is not alwaysthe case
with mostemployels.Historically this assumptionhasnot alwaysreflectedreality; for instanceNapoleonwasnot much taller than5it
(thoughNapoleon's
heightfor
heightis subjectto greatdebate,andhe mayhavebeenasmuchas5' 7", seeNapoleon's
accordingto sources
further information)andDengXiaoping ofChina who undertookmassivereformsto the Chineseeconomyin the 1980swasreportedto have
only been5 ft 2.(which was shorterthanthe averageChinese)Both were consideredvery strongleaders.
The role of heightin sports
Height often playsa crucial role in sports.For most sports,height is useful asit affectsthe leveragebetweenmusclevolumeandbones
andvolleyball,wherethe "short"playe$arealmostalways
towardsgreaterspeedofmovement.It is mostvaluablein sportslike basketball
gen€ral
population.
professional
In men's
basketball,the guards,the smallestplayers,are
well aboveavemgein height comparedto the
thetallestplayers,aregenerallyaom 6'10"to 7'2"(2.08to 2.l8 m). Famous
usuallyaround6'2"to 6'6"(1.88to 1.98m), andthecenters,
t]
playerShaquilleO'Nealis listedat 7'1"[t 12.16m). Somesports,suchashorseracing,autoracing,figureskating,diving,and
basketball
positions(i.e . In AmedcanFootball,
gymnastics,
a smallerframeis rnorevaluable.In othersports,therole ofheightis specificto paxticular
runningbackshavean advantageifthey are shorterthanthe defendersdueto lower centersofgravity anddecreasedvisibility.) In
andtaller thanaveragecompetitorsusuallycompetein the 105kg + group.
weightlifting shorterleve$ axeadvantageous
Soccer
For example,in soccer,tall goalkeepershavean advantagebecausethey havegreateramspa.nsandcanjump highereasily,so onewill rarely,
at the professionallevel. However,shortergoalkeeperswill havean easiertime reachinglow shotsasthey can
ifever, seea shortgoa.lkeeper
reachthe groundfractionally soonerthantaller keepem.ln attackingandwide positions,height is not alwaysimpottantwith someofthe best
playersin the world (e.g.Lionel Messi, Romarioand Maradona)being shorterthanaverageandin many casesgainingan advantagewith
for centraldefenders.
their low ceflterofgravity. However,height is generallyconsideredadvantageous
height
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||2008
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Page13of 17
Cricket
like DonaldBradman(5'7"/1.70m), SachinTendulkar(5'5"/1.65m) andAiavindaDe Silva(5'2")
Similarly,in cricket,somegoodbatsmen
are/wereshort.On the other hand,many successfulfastbowlersarelwerewell over 6 ft7l.83 m; for examples,pastgreatsJoel Gamer.
m. In geneml,taller
CourtneyWalsh,andCurtlyAmbrosewerea1l6'6"/1.98m or tallerandtherecentlyretiredGlennMcGrathis 6'4%"/1.95
bowlershavea higherpoint ofreleasein their bowling action,makingit easierfor them to makethe ball rear-upfrom a length.Also, they can
generatemore pacewilh longerarmsandthe sling actionassociatedwith bowling.
Rugby
ln rugby union, lineoutjumpers,generallylocks, are usuallythe tallestplayerson the pitch, asthis increasestheir chanceofwinning clean
ball, whereasscrum-halvesare usuallyrelatively short.As examples,cunent woild-classlocLsVictor Matfield, Chris Jack,andPaul
appearances,
scrum-halfGeorgeGregan,is 5'8"/1.73m.
O'Connellareall at least6'6"/1.98m, whilethe sport'sall-timeleaderin intemational
Football
In Football.a tall quafierbackis at an advantagebecauseit is easierfor him to seeover the headsof largeoffensiveanddefensivelinemen
while he is in the pocketin a passingsituation.Tall wide receive$ havean advantageofbeing ableto outjump shorterdefensivebacksto
catchhighly thrown passes.By contrast,shorterdefensivebacksare utilized becauseoftheir typically greateragility, asthe ability to change
directionsinstantlyis a prerequisitefor the position. Shortrunningbacksarc at an advantagebecausetheir shorterstatureand low€r centerof
gravity generallymakesthem harderto tackleeffectively. In addition,they caneasily "hide" behindlargeoffensivelinemen,making it harder
for defenders
to reactat thebeginningofa play.Thus,in theNFL andin NCAA DivisionI football,runningbacksunder6 ft 0 in (1.83m)
aremorecommonthanrururingbacksover 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m). FormerHeismanTrophy winner andPro FootballHall ofFamer Barry Sanders,
thoughtby someto be the greatestrunring back in history, is a classicexampleof a runningbackwith an extraordinarilylow centerof
thegreatest
runningbackofall time,
gravity,ashe stoodonly 5 ft 7 1/2in (1.71m). However,Jim Bro\ n, anotherplayeroftenconsidered
(1.88
greater
power
andleveragewhich height provides.
m) tall, demonstratingbenefitsconfered by the
was morethan 6 ft 2 in
Kickers are generallyshort,they are shorterbecuasethis allows themtog et underthe ball easier.Puntersare generallyvery tall becauseof
longerlegsachievinggreaterleg swing andthis translatesinto morepower on the ball.
Cornerbacksaregenerallymatchedwith taller recieversifthey arevery goodat blocking offthe line. But for playswhereit is a dehnitedeep
pass,thentaller comersareused.To incteasethe chacesof a batteddown passor an interception.
Salbtysaretall to pick offpassesand intimidatebacksandrecievers.
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_height
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Humanheight- wikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Pagel4 of 17
Basketball
Basketballplayerstendto be extremelytall with the tallestplayersbeingthe centers,astheir position is nearestthe basket.Height helpsthem
makeeasydunksandgivesthem a betterchanceof not havingtheir shotsblocked.The shortestplayersaJeusuallythe pointguards,whose
low centerof gravity helpsthemdribble closerto the ground.
Baseball
velocityanda
pitcherstendto be tallerthanpositionplayers.Beingtallermeanslongerlegs,whichpowerpitchesuseto generate
In baseball,
position
players
quicker.
have
a
larger
strike
zone,most
plate,
reaches
the
batter
While
tall
point
which
means
the
ball
release
closerto the
positionplayersate at leastofaverageheight becausethe largerframe allows themto generatemore power.Most successfulmodempitchers
with the 5'11"/1.80m PedroMadineza notable
aresafelyover6 feeVl.83m, someto extemes(e.9.,the6'10"/2.08m RandyJohnson),
exception.
History of humanheight
Europeans
in NorthAmericawerefar tallerthanthosein Europe.In fact,theywerethetallestin theworld.
In the 18thand1gthcenturies,
populationof PlainsIndianswasalsoamongthetallestpopulations
ofthe world at thetime.[I2]Seueralnations,
Theoriginalindigenous
nations.
andthe Scandinavian
theUS,partiiularlytheNetherlands,
in Europe.havenow surpassed
includiig manyn'ations
In the late nineteenthc€ntury.theNetherlardswasa landrenownedfor its shortpopulation,but today it hasthe 2nd tallestaveragein the
Herzegovina,
world,[l3]with youngmenavemging183cm (6 ft) tall andonly shoderthanthepeoplesofthe DinaricAlps (Montenegro,
in
Europe
for
extremetallness.
(6
The
Dinarians
and
Dutch
are
now
well
known
CoastalCroatia),wharemalesaverage186cm ft 1.1in) tall.
In Africa, the Maasai,Dinka andTutsi populationsareknown for their tallness.
Averagemale heightin impoverishedVietnamarrdNorth Koreall4l remainscomparativelysmallat 163cm (5 ft 4 in) and 165cm (5 ft 5_in),
respectively.Currently,yormgadult North Koreanmalesare actually significantly shorter.This contasts greatlywith the extremegro*th
standards
ofliving. YoungSouthKoreansareabout12cm (5.5inches)
Asianpopulations
with conelatedincreasing
occtmingin surrounding
taller thantheir North Koreancounterpafis,on average.Thereis also an extlemedifferencebetweenolderNorth KoreansandyoungNorth
thereis virtually no height differenceamongNorth Koreanand SouthKorean
Koreanswho grew up duringthe faminesofthe 1990s-2000s;
adultsolder than40, who cameofage at a time whenthe North'seconomywason a par with that ofthe South.
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heignr
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L.,HelmefiU. Persistent
variationsin average
heightbetween
J.J.M.,Cdalesi,
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r Cavelaars,
A.E.J.M.,Kunst,
A.E.,G€urts,
groups:an ov€rvie$,of l0 European
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diseaserelation:whereto go from herc?
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Changesin Body MassIndex: A Reappraisal(http://wwwjacn.org/cgihepintl23/l /5l.pd D.)
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(http://www.econ.uples/docs/seminarebaten.pd|
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Pagel6 of 17
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de
EnriqueBemerandCecileRauschHe$covic.Archik;hK:Mvos
^ Marianadel Pino,LuisaBay,HoracioLejanag4lrina Kovalskys,
(http://www.scielo.org.arlscielo.php?script=sci
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2. " Ii] (http://www.newscientist.com/articl€.ns?iddn2667)
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3. " a'M.N. Weedone/ a/. (Advanced
(httpr//dx.doi.org/l0.1038/ng212l).
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4. ^ R.A. Fisher(1918).
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(http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Tallest-People-in-the-World-61
people
13o.shtml)
in theworld
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measuremenls
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yearfollow-upof theFinnmarkStudy.Circulation94:2877-2882.
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century".N.rtionalBweauof EconanicResearch
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I998,"Tallestin theworld:NativeAmericans
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I12
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I 4) (freeregistmtion
required)
biMexis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=koreal
l.
Seealso
.
r
I
.
r
r
.
Heightism
Anthopometry
Heightandintelligence
Hunan weight
Humanvariabiliry
l{umanbiology
List oftallestpeople
External links
. CDC National Centerfor Health Statistics:GrowdrChartsof AmericanPercentiles(http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts,)
ght
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_hei
I/IDOOq
Humanheight- Wikipedia-the freeencyclopedia
Page17of 17
For a Dore accurat€worldwidestatisticalstudy d&tacoveringmalesand femalesfrom I - 18 yearsof age,checkthis link (scrolldown
to table III - IV).
. www.fao.org:Body WeightsandHeightsby Countries(http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/MEETING/004M2846E/1v12846807.htm)
r Height to Weight Charts(http://www.stayfitalways.corr/charts.php)
Height to weight chartsaccordingto small,mediumandlarge
framefor both men andwomen.
I Standard1oMetric HumanHeight Converter(http://www.albireo.ch/bodyconverter,)
. BMI Calculator(http://www.calcalot.com,/bmi-calculator.asp)
Calculatea personsBody MassIndex
R€trievedfrom "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanheight"
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. Thispagewaslastmodified07:35,1 January2008.
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uman height
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