Henry Turberfield, '26
Shortness is no small issue, with hundreds of millions affected each year. The average height for a man in America is 5 foot 9 inches, and the average height for a woman is 5 foot 4 inches. According to multiple websites, 5 '7 is considered to be short for a man, and 5 ‘2 is short for a woman (The Student Room and Poe). Both of these are only two inches below the average, but what causes people to deviate from the average height?
Many blame genetics and their parents for their shortcomings, but multiple factors are responsible. Some of these factors include hypothyroidism, GHD (growth hormone deficiency), delayed puberty, malnutrition, among others. A lot of these issues stem from the pituitary gland, a gland in the base of your brain that regulates hormones inside your body. The endocrine glands system is the one responsible for producing hormones though. These hormones carry specific charges that are like commands for the body to do. If not enough hormones are produced into your bloodstream, your body might not grow to its full potential.
Diseases can also play a major role in whether you are tall or short. Diseases that target these endocrine glands like celiac, sickle cell anemia, and cushings will cause these glands to produce less than what is required to grow. Birth defects like dwarfism, bone growth abnormalities, and down syndrome can be passed down through genetics and most likely result in a short stature.
Aside from the consent belittlement from colleagues and not being able to reach the cookie jar, there are many benefits to being short in size. A study in 2014, found that shorter people have a decreased risk factor of developing cancer, blood clots, and back pain. Journal PLOS found that there was a direct correlation between height and life expectancy too. Not to mention, there are everyday conveniences. Your feet will never stick out from under the blanket, you’ll be good at hide and seek, you are less likely to fall, and you’ll never have to worry about leg room.
Although we’ll never be able to dunk, being short does have its benefits. The view that shorter people are less of a person than someone taller is just not true, as socially taller people have the advantage, but convenience and health say otherwise.
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