How Improved Living Conditions Have Increased Men's Height and Mass Over the Last Century

Over the last hundred years, men have significantly increased their physical mass and height, with this process occurring twice as fast as in women. The results of a new study published in the journal Biology Letters demonstrate how improvements in living conditions in various countries have contributed to growth and changes in the bodies of men and women. In this article, we will explore why this has happened and what factors may influence such changes.

The Study that Reveals the Statistics

Scientists from the University of Roehampton in the UK conducted a large-scale analysis of data covering more than 135,000 people from 62 countries. Based on this data, they found that men have increased their height and weight twice as fast as women over the past 100 years. The Human Development Index (HDI) was used for measurements, which takes into account life expectancy, education level, and income per capita. This indicator ranges from 0 to 1 and serves as a gauge of life quality improvement.

How Height and Weight Have Changed

The study showed that with an increase in HDI by 0.2 points, women, on average, became 1.7 cm taller and 2.7 kg heavier, while men saw similar increases of 4 cm and 6.5 kg. This suggests that improvements in living conditions and medical-biological factors, such as nutrition and healthcare, have a much more pronounced effect on men.

Sexual Selection as One of the Reasons

One hypothesis put forward by the researchers is the influence of sexual selection on changes in the male body. Throughout human evolution, men with taller and more muscular bodies had a better chance of successful reproduction. Today, although physical confrontations for partners are no longer relevant, women may still prefer taller and stronger men. This could be linked to the fact that height is associated with good health and the ability to protect a partner and offspring.

Sexual Dimorphism: Differences Between Men and Women

Sexual dimorphism is a biological characteristic in which males and females of the same species differ in size and physical parameters. In humans, men are usually taller, heavier, and more muscular than women. Under improved living and nutritional conditions, this sexual dimorphism is enhanced.

Possible Health Risks

However, scientists emphasize that an increase in height and weight is not always a positive factor. This is especially true for men, whose larger size can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, as well as osteoarthritis due to excessive strain on joints and the spine. A higher metabolism requires more resources, which can also lead to obesity and related diseases.

Differences in Countries with Different Development Levels

Interestingly, the effect of increased height and weight in men is much more pronounced in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI). In such countries, improvements in living conditions and nutrition have a significant impact on physical development, while in less developed countries, this influence is much weaker. For example, in the UK, since 1900, the HDI has increased from 0.8 to 0.94, leading to a noticeable rise in the average height of both men and women.

Conclusion

The difference in the rate of growth and mass gain between men and women over the past 100 years is the result of many factors, including improvements in living conditions, nutrition, medicine, and sexual selection. However, another important aspect remains: larger sizes can not only offer advantages but also pose health risks. This highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and balance to avoid negative consequences associated with large physical sizes. Thus, societal development and improved living conditions contribute to the increase in physical strength and height in men, but it is worth considering that this does not always bring only positive results.