Observations on Body Size by Other Scientists
“ In nonagenarians, a lower activity of the insulin/IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) signaling (IIS) pathway is significantly associated with lower body height and improved old age survival.”
“We found a highly significant inverse relation between height and replicative life span in humans of the same chronological age (– .35m p = .007).” p. 43
Source: Maier et al. Relation Between Body Height and Replicative Capacity of Human Fibroblasts in Nonagenarians. Journal of Gerontology, 2008, 63A, 43-45.
“……but across every species and now it appears to be in man as well, shorter stature is an advantage.”
Source: Eric Topol & Sarah Topol, Scripps Institute. Genomic Medicine, San Diego, Ca.
“A trend towards taller and heavier individuals appears as societies adopt modern lifestyles. This trend is not always beneficial because high birth weight, rapid growth, and high energy intake may be associated with development of cancer, diabetes, hypertension and stroke.” p. 537
“Lower energy intake, slower childhood growth rates, and shorter stature …..might improve health at later stages of adult development.” p. 538
Source: E Marini, AL Maldonado-Contreras, et al. Helicobacter Pylori and Intestinal Parasites are not Detrimental to the Nutritional Status of Armedians. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007, 76, 534-540
“These findings support an adverse effect of relative “overnutriton” in infancy on long-term cardiovascular disease risk……and do not support the promotion of faster weight gain in infants born small for gestational age.”
Source: Singhal et al. Promotion of faster weight gain in infants born small for gestational age: is there an adverse effect on later blood pressure? Circulation 2007, 115, 213-20.
“……recently showed that rapidly growing individuals (lizards, trees, and fish respectively) experienced lower long-term survival than slower growing conspecifics.” (p.E156)
Source: Mangel & Munch.A life-history perspective on short- and long-term consequences of compensatory growth. The American Naturalist 2005, 166, E156-176.
“These findings support an adverse effect of relative “over-nutriton” in infancy on long-term cardiovascular disease risk......and do not support the promotion of faster weight gain in infants born small for gestational age.”
A new article in Carnegie Council for Ethics
Publications of Interest
Wilhelmsen and colleagues tracked 67-year old men to 90 years of age and found that men who were shorter at 67 years tended to have better survival than taller men. See page 8 in Wilhelmsen L, Svardsudd K, Eriksson H, et al. Factors associated with reaching 90 years of age: a study of men born in 1913 in Gothenburg, Sweden. J Intern Med 2011; 269:441-451. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02331
An Article in the Indian Heart Journal
Tom’s review of research findings on the health risks related to higher birth weight, rapid growth, early maturation and taller stature was recently published in the Women’s Health Bulletin. See: Samaras TT. Health risks of higher birth weight, rapid growth, early maturation and taller height. Women’s Health Bulletin. 2015 July; 2(3):e26805
An Italian Study Confirms Tom’s findings
Important findings from Sardinia show that shorter people live longer. The new study, authored by Salaris, Poulain and Samaras was recently published by the journal Biodemography and Social Biology.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is responsible for 126,000 deaths per year. A large Harvard study found that good nutrition can help you avoid this disease. For example, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish promote healthy lungs and reduce the risk. In contrast, refined grains, red meat, and cured meats increase the risk.
Source: Harvard Men’s Health Watch, 2010, vol 14, No. 7, pp 1-3.