There is a growing discussion on the possible impact of height on longevity, specifically that shorter people may live longer than taller people. Although women often outlive males this belief is supported by science. The conversation has been intensifying on social media, where it can be challenging to distinguish between reality and fantasy. To gather the facts, CNBC Make It spoke with two in-depth authorities on longevity who have years of experience:
David Sinclair, co-director of the Harvard Medical School’s Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, and Jean-Marie Robine, a demographer who specializes in the study of the connection between health and longevity. These are their theories as to why those who are shorter might live longer than those who are taller. Do short people live longer? This is the key question that we are going to address in this article. So don’t go anywhere stay tuned to find out whether it is reality or just a myth.
Can Short People Live Longer? What Research Says?
Although the tide has turned against the belief that being short shortens one’s lifespan, because they were frequently malnourished during their first year of life, “people were much shorter than [they are] today” many years ago, according to Robine. He continues, “They were unable to fight against infectious diseases and they were unable to develop properly.” “Historically, we [were] associating low birth weight with poor early life development and high mortality rates at the population level.” However, according to Robine, “if you have the best of what is possible, in terms of wealth and education, the shorter are living longer than the taller.” This is currently the case for shorter individuals.
A 2003 study published in Elsevier discovered a negative association between height and longevity based on data from millions of deaths. Furthermore, “shorter, smaller bodies have lower death rates and fewer diet-related chronic diseases, especially past middle age,” according to research findings. According to the report, shorter people seem to live longer lives than their taller counterparts. Cross-country skiers were on average almost six inches shorter and lived nearly seven years longer than basketball players among 2,500 male athletes from Finland. Furthermore, research comparing males in the Italian army discovered that those who were shorter than roughly 5-foot-4 survived two years longer than their taller peers. According to Robine, “When you are taller, you need more cell replications to fill your body, and this can just exhaust you faster,” which is most likely the biological cause of this.
Short People Live Longer: Gender Disparities
It is evident from the study that “height matters.” Inversely, the smaller you are, the longer you will live, whether you’re a person or a dog,” claims Sinclair, co-founder and scientific advisor of Tally Health, a biotech startup that seeks to increase lifespan and healthspan. It turns out that women’s height and longer lifespans are exactly matched. Women’s average height varies depending on the place.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that American women over the age of 20 are, on average, 63.7 inches tall, or roughly 5-foot-4. According to some sources, such as Our World in Data, women’s average height worldwide is estimated to be 159.5 cm, or roughly five feet three inches. According to Sinclair, the major variation in height between men and women is caused by variations in growth hormone levels, with women having significantly larger quantities. He continues, “It is established that growth hormone levels do affect longevity.”
Women live longer for several reasons besides just being taller. “Women are more resistant to mortality [and] to death than men because they are just resisting more to difficulties,” is Robine’s simple theory explaining why women live longer than men. He continues, “Women may also feel accountable for the lives of their children in addition to their own.” Because of this, “they have to be stronger” and endure a little while longer than men.
Because they just resist challenges more than men, women are more resilient to mortality and death. “A man’s mortality is equal to that of a woman as long as he remains healthy and free from disability,” according to Robine. However, men have a dismal chance of surviving if their health is bad. Furthermore, women are far less accepting of “not perfect” health. This is fascinating to Robine: “We would expect the opposite, but it’s well known and acknowledged that our societies are not treating women very well, so it’s just so amazing women are living longer.”
Do Short People Live Longer Than Tall: Examining The Data
Based on data from millions of deaths, a study published in Elsevier found a negative correlation between height and longevity. The study’s conclusions indicate that shorter people seem to live longer than their taller counterparts. It also found that “shorter, smaller bodies have lower death rates and fewer diet-related chronic diseases, especially past middle age.” Among almost 2,500 male athletes from Finland, cross-country skiers were six inches shorter and typically lived nearly seven years longer than basketball players.
Furthermore, men under the height of five feet four inches lived two years longer than their taller counterparts in an Italian army research. The results of an earlier investigation carried out in 1992 were likewise consistent. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a part of the entropy hypothesis of aging, which suggests that aging is caused by an increase in internal disorder and that an individual’s life expectancy declines with mass.
The first evaluation of the association between human size and longevity or life span. Conducted in 1978, found that shorter, lighter men live longer than their taller, heavier counterparts, based on figures for fewer groups of athletes and well-known Americans. A 1990 study with 1679 men and women from the general American population supported these findings.
According to records used in the study from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Diego, California, USA, men who were 175.3 cm or shorter lived an average of 4.95 years longer than those who were over 175.3 cm, and men who were 170.2 cm or shorter lived an average of 7.46 years longer than those who were at least 182.9 cm tall. Men who weigh 63.6 kg or less have a 7.72-year longer longevity than men who weigh 90.9 kg or more, according to an analysis by weight difference. Taller people are not necessarily healthier, as the study disproved and validated the findings of other researchers.
Expert demographer Jean-Marie Robine speculates that this is probably because taller people’s bodies require more cell replications to fill them out, which might lead to physical exhaustion more quickly, according to biology, as CNBC noted. According to Robine, people were significantly shorter than they are now in their first year of life as a result of poor nutrition. He said that they were unable to develop normally or protect themselves from infectious diseases.
Small stature has historically been associated with poor first-year development and a high mortality rate at the population level. Robine claims that if a shorter person has access to the best resources—money and education—they will live longer than a taller person. Height matters, according to David Sinclair, co-founder and scientific advisor of Tally Health. A biotech company that aims to lengthen longevity and improve healthspan. Inversely, the smaller you are, human or dog, the longer you’ll live.
An Analysis: Does Short People Live Longer Than Taller
A tall person and a short person are debating height. The tall person disagrees with the short person’s belief that being short is preferable to being tall. Given that childhood food intake has a major role in determining height. The tall person contends that being tall translates into better health. According to the short person, research indicates that shorter people have longer lifespans. The tall person objects and the two argue some more. There has long been a proverb that states that small people live longer than tall people. Although this proverb may not be true, research suggests that height and longevity may be related. Scholars have examined more than 130 research that gathered data on the heights and causes of mortality of approximately 1.1 million people.
Researchers discovered correlations between people’s heights and various types of death while examining the patterns. Over the past three decades, several researchers have discovered a negative relationship between longevity and height. Based on millions of deaths, findings indicate that shorter bodies have longer average lifespans and lower death rates. males under the height of 161.1 cm (about 5’3″) lived longer than males over 161.1 cm. According to research done on men who had served in the Italian military.
In addition, 3,901 basketball players who competed between 1946 and 2010—both living and deceased—had their height and lifespan examined in a 2017 study. According to a study on the height and longevity of former basketball players. The tallest players passed away earlier than the shortest players. It is noteworthy, however, that for these two investigations. The researchers did not link characteristics such as body mass index and weight. One proposed element that contributes to a longer life span for shorter people is calorie restriction, or eating less.
Taller persons need more calories per day to function at their best because of their larger internal organs and larger bones. Taller persons also tend to have larger organs, which increases the likelihood that an organ’s cell will develop cancer. Larger organs require more cells to reproduce, and mistakes made during cell division result in the appearance of cancerous cells. There is also the assumption that shorter bodies contain fewer cells. Compared to short individuals, tall people can have up to trillions more cells in their bodies. Which increases their exposure to and influence on cancer-causing substances.
According to a third notion, taller people may eventually experience a decrease in cell repair as a result of aging and having more cells. Although it is not the only determinant, height may have an impact on longevity. It’s not inevitable that tall individuals will live shorter lifetimes, while short people may not always have longer lifespans. Lifestyle decisions have an impact on longevity; some ways to live a healthier and possibly longer life include abstaining from drugs and alcohol, exercising more, eating better, managing stress, and relocating to a less polluted location. Numerous investigations have revealed a relationship between lifespan and height. These findings are convincing, but they are by no means definitive. Making healthy lifestyle decisions is the best way to extend one’s life.
FAQs: Do Short People Live Longer?
Q. Is there really a link between height and lifespan?
Yes, recent research suggests a connection between shorter stature and a longer life expectancy. Studies have shown a trend where shorter individuals tend to live slightly longer on average, potentially by a couple of years.
Q. How much longer do short people live?
Research suggests a possible difference of 2 years or so in lifespan, with shorter individuals living longer on average. However, it’s important to remember that this is a general trend, and individual health plays a much bigger role in determining lifespan.
Q. Why might shorter people live longer?
There are a few interesting theories behind the potential link between height and longevity. One theory suggests that shorter people have fewer cells in their bodies. Having fewer cells could mean less wear and tear on the body over time. Additionally, some studies suggest shorter people might have a lower risk of developing certain chronic diseases, like some cancers, which could contribute to a longer lifespan.
Q. Does this mean being tall is bad for you?
Absolutely not! Height has many benefits, and there are plenty of tall people who live long and healthy lives. Overall health and lifestyle choices are much bigger factors in determining lifespan than height.
Q. Is this just for men, or does it apply to women too?
The research on the height-longevity link seems to suggest a similar trend for both men and women. So, shorter folks of all genders might benefit from this potential advantage.
Q. What if I’m short, but overweight? Does that affect things?
Yes, weight is a significant factor in overall health and lifespan. Regardless of height, maintaining a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise is important for promoting longevity.
Q. Can I control my height to live longer?
Unfortunately, adult height is mostly determined by genetics. There’s no way to directly control your height once you’re fully grown. However, focusing on healthy lifestyle choices like a balanced diet, regular exercise, and good sleep habits is key for promoting a long and healthy life.
Q. Should I be worried if I’m tall?
There’s no need to worry about your height! While some research suggests a possible link between shorter stature and longevity. Focusing on healthy habits like exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management will do wonders for promoting a long life, regardless of your height.
Q. Is more research needed on this topic?
Yes, further studies are needed to solidify the connection between height and lifespan and explore the exact mechanisms behind it. The research we have so far is promising, but more data is needed to fully understand this link.
Q. Should I celebrate being short now?
Celebrate your health! Regardless of your height, focus on healthy habits and a balanced lifestyle to live a long and fulfilling life. After all, health is truly the greatest wealth!
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