And this isn't just Mother Nature being racist -- there have also been studies that very obviously point out the connection between height and longevity, all within the same peoples, and even the same profession. Look at the charts yourself:
The first chart shows baseball players of the 20th century, while the second chart shows the average Frenchman in the 19th century. The pattern? Shorties live longer lives.
So what are the biological reasons as to why this occurs? Other than the fact that it's probably much easier to get your head caught in ceiling fans, scientists speculate that, since taller people have more cells in their bodies, they are more exposed to carcinogens, and so are more at risk of developing cancer. And how much is this risk, exactly? Researchers have found that for women, every extra 4 inches of height you have over 5 feet is another 16 percent chance of developing cancer. That's right -- you're more likely to get sick simply because there is more of you. It sounds like cartoon logic, but it also appears to be true.
Getty
This guy should be getting, like, hourly MRIs.
1658 Comments