A new global study on height has revealed that Kenyans have not grown taller over the past 100 years and are significantly shorter compared to their European counterparts.
The research, led by scientists from Imperial College London and published in the eLife journal, shows that the average height of Kenyan men has decreased slightly over the years. In 1962, the average Kenyan man stood at 172.2 cm (5ft 6in), but by 2014, this had dropped to 169.6 cm (5ft 5in). Similarly, Kenyan women have also seen a reduction in height, from an average of 160.6 cm (5ft 2in) in 1962 to 158.2 cm (5ft 1in) in 2014.
The study also highlights a worrying trend in several Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Rwanda, where the average height of young men and women has decreased by as much as 5 cm over the past four decades.
Who Are the Tallest People in the World?
The study, which is the largest of its kind, identified Dutch men and Latvian women as the tallest people on the planet. The research also found that the United States, once known for its tall population, has seen a decline. In 1914, American men ranked third in height, while women were in fourth place. By 2014, however, the U.S. had dropped to 37th for men and 42nd for women.
In contrast, the average height in the UK has increased by about 11 cm over the past century.
Factors That Impact Height
So, what determines how tall a nation becomes? The study reveals that nutrition and environmental factors are crucial in determining how tall individuals grow. Children and adolescents who receive proper nutrition and live in healthy environments tend to be taller.
“Height is also influenced by a mother’s health and nutrition during pregnancy,” the study notes.
Some countries have seen significant increases in height over the years. South Korean women, for example, have grown by an average of 20.2 cm, while Iranian men have gained 16.5 cm in height.
The research further found that the gap in height between the tallest and shortest countries has widened. In 2014, men in the tallest countries were 23 cm taller than those in the shortest, an increase of 4 cm from 1914. The height difference between the tallest and shortest countries for women has remained steady at about 20 cm.
A Reflection of Health Trends
“This study provides a snapshot of the health of nations over the past century, showing that while some countries continue to grow taller, others are seeing a decline in average height,” said Professor Majid Ezzati, one of the authors of the study.
