My family and i go out to eat regularily (cousins aunts uncles etc) and the youngest boy (14) is the tallest followed by me (15) and then another cousin who is 18. My uncles and dad are the shortest.
I see this all the time. Is it possible that over the decades, kids have eaten more and more food that allows for growth?
2007-06-28 19:27:42 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
Ah, well my answer here will be using info on US citizens. Children are getting taller because their hormones are activating sooner and making alot. This is due to fast food and other unhealthy habits that have an effect on the body. Not to mention a lower quality lifestyle and health system.
Unfortunately, the hormones will stop sooner due to "using it all up". This will actually cause shortness. This is also why Americans are transferring their height to their stomachs; at one point, the Americans were the tallest in the world at 6 feet, but fell 5 inches over a period of 200 years behind the Europeans.
keep a healthier life!
2007-06-28 19:40:40 · answer #1 · answered by mateohao2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that the trend is nothing more than a recessive genetic one. Just because you're not exceptionally tall it doesn't mean you don't carry the "taller" genes in your chromosomes, it just means that your body didn't physically express those. It's all random - luck of the draw.
On the other hand, there has been a hypothesis in the scientific community on why girls in general are reaching menarche (first menstruation and therefore the beginning of sexual maturity) at earlier and earlier ages. Studies have shown that rural girls in general have menarche at later periods than urban girls, suggesting that external pressures to reach sexual maturity in city youth are causing them to begin growing at earlier and earlier times.
A third hypothesis is that evolution via natural selection is currently predisposed towards taller individuals. The 21st century is beginning to be what historians are calling the "post-modern" age - meaning that essentially we have reached or are reaching the end of history. Evolutionary selective pressures (who has children with who) are said to be leaning less towards former traditional values and more towards superficial things such as appearance, and hence the procreation between individuals of taller and taller statuses - the state of attractivity in this day and age.
Although I'd beg to differ, lol. I'm fresh out of highschool, and I've noticed the kids shrinking rather than the other around.
Good observation, though. Interesting topic, this is.
Cheers.
2007-06-28 19:38:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and No. Nutrition has gotten very advanced with knowing what foods to eat for what and when and why. That is also a problem with obesity today. Also, kids are getting MUCH MUCH shorter. At my school (middle school) there is 6th, 7th, and 8th grade (me= 8th grade). And you can look at all the kids and tell how they are getting shorter each year. The 8th graders range from 4'9" to 6'2" Than the 7th graders are 4 ft- 5'11 and 6th graders are about 3'11 (YES 3'11")- 5'6". Nutrition over the years has gotten better and worse. Like junk food has increased in children eating it and they are getting no nutrients from it so that is why they are short
2007-06-28 19:36:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is possible and is in fact happening all over the world mostly due to better nutrition.
2007-06-28 19:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by Andee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope if anything kids r getting shorter.
but it's all genetics
2007-06-28 19:40:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋