How long do short people live?
How long a person lives depends on many factors. Some of the determinants are modifiable, others are not. The genetics cannot be changed. However, other factors strongly impact how long a person's life can last.
For example, it does not matter whether someone is short or tall when their lifestyle is bad. Also, when a person is living in an unhealthy environment, height will not matter that much.
However, researchers took a look at the differences that exist between the longevity of tall and short people. The results of many studies indicate that the shorter a person is, the longer they tend to live.
Here are the results that support this thesis:
- An study on the Italian military found that a military person shorter than 161 cm (5’28”) tends to live longer, compared to taller individuals[1, 2].
- Another study showed that men above 175 cm (5’74”) lived nearly 5 years less than those above this height. It also showed that the smaller you are, the longer you live. Men below the height of 170 cm (5’57”) lived even more than 7 years longer than men higher than 183 cm (6’) [3].
- Also, shorter people were found to have a lower risk of death in all cases than tall people [1].
However, it is important to note that longevity is influenced by many different factors, and more evidence would be needed to conclude that short people live longer.
What could make shorter people live longer?
The exact causes that make short people live longer are not known yet. However, there are some theories explaining this phenomenon.
One theory says that shorter people are smaller and have fewer cells, thus having a lower production of toxic metabolites like free radicals [1].
Another theory also points out the lower number of cells in shorter people as the reason for the longer life. It says that because short people are smaller, they have fewer cells to be replaced during life. With this, they have more replication cycles unused at a later age [1].
Also, genetics is suggested as a reason why shorter people live longer. FOX03 is a gene that is associated with long life. However, it is also linked to height. Some scientists say that the version of the gene that makes the body smaller is responsible for longevity [1].
Until what age do people grow?
Generally, boys grow until 18 years of age, while girls grow until they are around 15 years old [4, 5].
When you or your child are out of this growth period, the height won’t change anymore.
However, it goes without saying that you should not fight your growth or the growth of your child. Food deprivation can lead to health problems that may have a stronger impact on lifespan than height itself.
What influences height?
The rate of growth and the final height depend on genetics, a proper diet, and hormones.
The most important of all the parameters is genetics. Height is inheritable. When the parents are short, the child will probably be too [6].
A proper diet with sufficient nutrients is crucial to using genetic potential. A balanced mixture of proteins, minerals, and vitamins is crucial for good growth [6]. Even when the genetics are set for a growth of 170 cm (5’57”), poor nutrition can make it impossible to reach this height.
The growth of humans is regulated by hormones. The hormones regulating growth are produced in the pituitary gland. The most important for growth is the growth hormone. Supportive in the growth process are insulin, testosterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones, and prolactin [7].
The regulation of growth differs between females and males. Girls start growing two years earlier than boys. However, boys' growth is generally strong, and they are taller than girls [6].