Interestingly, the article fails to mention the strong correlation between height and longevity - not in the positive direction.[0]
If you want to live longer, shorter is better when controlled for other factors like nutrition.
Will humans keep getting taller?
11–20 of 51 posts
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#12Height can also be a pain. I'm 6'5" and have lower back and sciatica pain, probably since most of my height is in my torso. Fitting into some cars is horrible. Airline seats are hell. My son is short for his age; go figure.
I would imagine as the average height increases, from a product design point of view, cars, planes, etc. will become more accommodating for people who would be considered very tall today's standards
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#13Interestingly, the article fails to mention the strong correlation between height and longevity - not in the positive direction.[0] If you want to live longer, shorter is better when controlled for other factors like nutrition. [0] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071721/
Body size and cancer rates is correlated within a species (bigger individuals get cancer at a great rate than smaller individuals).
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#14As an extremely "average" height guy, height has been one "human variable" that has always confused me - anecdote after anecdote after anecdote from both proclamations from women, professional sports, and more importantly, our(Western) culture in general have made height seem to be the most important physical trait in a male; yet this article, along with actual research have time and time again either demonstrated th…
I would say that women have a bias towards socially dominant/powerful men which probably goes back to favouring the chief of a tribe in paleoithic time.
As humans tend to reduce the problem down with stereotyping people probably associate tall with socially dominant even if isn't very accurate. Thus you get a feedback loop where taller people are expected to act a certain way and then start acting that way.
I know a guy who is a dwarf who also has a very successful business, is a funny and charming guy and also has a beautiful and kind girlfriend. So height is neither a ticket or a penalty to success in life.
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#15Height can also be a pain. I'm 6'5" and have lower back and sciatica pain, probably since most of my height is in my torso. Fitting into some cars is horrible. Airline seats are hell. My son is short for his age; go figure.
I would imagine as the average height increases, from a product design point of view, cars, planes, etc. will become more accommodating for people who would be considered very tall today's standards
This assumes that average height continues increasing, which is not a given. The Dutch might represent the peak. They might not ever get taller. Americans might never reach that height.
I would also not assume that airplanes would become more accommodating to taller people. They certainly have not become more accommodating of fatter people despite a lot of movement in that direction.
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Being tall is highly advantageous in the right circumstances, terrible in the wrong ones. It just varies based on environment, resources, etc. Athletes know this too, but it does so happen that the sports which make the most money right now thrive on big, tall men. Basketball and American football thrive on giant guys, but it's not the only model. The best rock climber isn't going to be an NBA forward, it's going to…
One of those circumstances is in combat. Historically that has been extremely important. It wouldn't surprise me that under more violent circumstances, mate preferences shift toward those of greater size, strength, and overall physical ability.
Well mate preference tends to shift towards living mates.
You only have to compare the recent ancestors of the Maori with current Maori to see the effects of constant warfare in an environment which is not food constrained.
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#17As an extremely "average" height guy, height has been one "human variable" that has always confused me - anecdote after anecdote after anecdote from both proclamations from women, professional sports, and more importantly, our(Western) culture in general have made height seem to be the most important physical trait in a male; yet this article, along with actual research have time and time again either demonstrated th…
There is pretty conclusive evidence that taller men are on average more attractive than shorter men. However being more attractive does not necessarily mean you will have more kids. My theory is that people want to marry people of similar attractiveness, so if for very attractive people the pool of potential matches could actually be smaller, in part because attractive people are more choosy. Also in terms of evoluti…
> Also in terms of evolution, if you have sex it doesn't matter how attractive your partner was.
It does, because your partner's attractiveness affects your child's attractiveness, and thereby their mating ability.
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#18Height can also be a pain. I'm 6'5" and have lower back and sciatica pain, probably since most of my height is in my torso. Fitting into some cars is horrible. Airline seats are hell. My son is short for his age; go figure.
I would imagine as the average height increases, from a product design point of view, cars, planes, etc. will become more accommodating for people who would be considered very tall today's standards
Cars have become worse, probably due to safety standards. The lower ceiling height, thicker pillars, and cab-forward massive dash boards with highly sloped windshields. I'm thinking about getting a Mercedes commercial van; that ought to fit, and I can sit upright.
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would imagine as the average height increases, from a product design point of view, cars, planes, etc. will become more accommodating for people who would be considered very tall today's standards
Cars have become worse, probably due to safety standards. The lower ceiling height, thicker pillars, and cab-forward massive dash boards with highly sloped windshields. I'm thinking about getting a Mercedes commercial van; that ought to fit, and I can sit upright.
This is the main reason I will only consider full-size pickups for my primary driver going forward. I cannot accept the limited visibility and poor ergonomics of sedans. I'm not exceptionally tall, at only 6'2".
Re: Will humans keep getting taller?
#20As an extremely "average" height guy, height has been one "human variable" that has always confused me - anecdote after anecdote after anecdote from both proclamations from women, professional sports, and more importantly, our(Western) culture in general have made height seem to be the most important physical trait in a male; yet this article, along with actual research have time and time again either demonstrated th…
As a 200cm/6'6" man, I think the optimum height is 6'4" - you get all the benefits of being tall (social prestige, being able to breathe in crowds) and fewer of the disadvantages (clothes still fit, beds still fit, buses and planes still fit, don't hit your head on doorframes or light fittings anywhere near as much).
If only I could go back in time and tell young vacri to stop growing at 6'4" :)