How is it that George Washington was considered a "tall, robust man" if he was only 6'2 and only weighed 175

Question

If someone who is 6'2 weighs 175 then chances are that they are probably going to look kind of tall and thin, and if they are muscular they probably will not have much muscle or else they would weigh more than that. Although 175 lbs is within the reccomended weight for a male who is 6'2, the reality is that the most "robust, strong-looking" individuals of that height usually weigh much more than 175. In addition, there are plenty of people who are taller than 6'2, so it is not like it is unusual for someone to be that height. So how it it that George Washington was considered uniquely "robust and tall" when he was no taller than anyone else, and in fact weighed a great deal less than a lot of people?

Answer 1

People were significantly smaller during colonial times. This wasn't related to genetics, but relative to diet and health. G. Washington was a giant of a man for his time.

Answer 2

Probably because George Washington lived in the 1770's and back then, people did not grow to be near as tall. It was also a time when people were not obsessed with weight training, bulking up, and protein shakes, so 175 probably was pretty robust to them! I think it was the comparison back then that led the labels to stick. He likely was one of the more hale and hearty guys of his time. It is just perspective.

Answer 3

People always shave a few pounds off their weight when asked.
Actually I'm surprised he was that thin. He's got a bit of a beer gut in some paintings.

Answer 4

In that era, people were commonly shorter and smaller. Washington's fellow founding father James Madison was 5'4" and less than one hundred pounds.

Answer 5

People were shorter back then.