Ladies & gentlemen,

I've found an interesting paper on the evolution of median height especially in the US and the Netherlands. Is a bit on the long side, but it may worth the read.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/05/040405fa_fact?printable=true

The presented data shows correlation between feeding habits and height/health state. Example:

"Steckel has found that Americans lose the most height to Northern Europeans in infancy and adolescence, which implicates pre- and post-natal care and teen-age eating habits. “If these snack foods are crowding out fruits and vegetables, then we may not be getting the micronutrients we need,” he says. In a recent British study, one group of schoolchildren was given hamburgers, French fries, and other familiar lunch foods; the other was fed nineteen-forties-style wartime rations such as boiled cabbage and corned beef. Within eight weeks, the children on the rations were both taller and slimmer than the ones on a regular diet."

Interesting/obvious, isn't it?

Ladies & gentlemen,

I've found an interesting paper on the evolution of median height especially in the US and the Netherlands. Is a bit on the long side, but it may worth the read.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/05/040405fa_fact?printable=true

The presented data shows correlation between feeding habits and height/health state. Example:

"Steckel has found that Americans lose the most height to Northern Europeans in infancy and adolescence, which implicates pre- and post-natal care and teen-age eating habits. “If these snack foods are crowding out fruits and vegetables, then we may not be getting the micronutrients we need,” he says. In a recent British study, one group of schoolchildren was given hamburgers, French fries, and other familiar lunch foods; the other was fed nineteen-forties-style wartime rations such as boiled cabbage and corned beef. Within eight weeks, the children on the rations were both taller and slimmer than the ones on a regular diet."

Interesting/obvious, isn't it?

I will give that a read after work. I don't know how anyone can justify feeding a group of school children crap for eight weeks though, that just seems morally wrong to me.

I don't know how anyone can justify feeding a group of school children crap for eight weeks though, that just seems morally wrong to me.

The unfortunate reality is that it probably was no different to what they normally eat.

the Unfortunate Reality Is That It Probably Was No Different To What They Normally Eat.

+1

The presented data shows correlation between feeding habits and height/health state.
It's not a perfect correlation and there are a few questions in it too.

And I'm sceptical of the eight week study either. It's unlikely there'd be a measurable change in height over such a short time frame. Kids grow about 2 1/2 inches a year. It would be pretty hard to differentiate between 1/3 of a inch growth in height over 8 weeks, and maybe 1/2 and inch growth.

As an added step, I'd like to see height correlated with age of death, which should be fairly simple. If you're more than six feet tall, are you likely to live longer than if you're less than six feet tall?

Maybe soon we'll be seeing "ideal height charts" instead of "ideal weight charts". :p

And I'm sceptical of the eight week study either. It's unlikely there'd be a measurable change in height over such a short time frame. Kids grow about 2 1/2 inches a year. It would be pretty hard to differentiate between 1/3 of a inch growth in height over 8 weeks, and maybe 1/2 and inch growth.


I wondered about that myself.
Well most of the people here are able to tell fractions of body fat percentage when looking at a small picture. Up-side down. Under water. One eye closed. With sun glasses. Under influence. Measuring somebody with a tape is just a walk in the park.
Just joking :p


As an added step, I'd like to see height correlated with age of death, which should be fairly simple. If you're more than six feet tall, are you likely to live longer than if you're less than six feet tall?


Well, in the case of our distinguished friends the dutch (of which I have several friends), the results could be seriously skewed by all that beer they drink (cantankerous bastards ;) ) and all that pot they smoke :madpimp: => :eat:.

Cheers,
Dan