Is every generation getting taller?

Question

I know waists are expanding, but is it true that we are getting taller?

My aunt thinks so because she was 5"9 as a teenager (and still is) and was among the tallest girls in her school. Then, twenty years later, she returned as a teacher in the same school and found that many of her female students towered over her.

Are we getting taller?

Answer 1

the food we eat and the vitamins we take.... im 12 and im already 5'7. I'm only 2 inches shorter than my dad. muhahahaha

Answer 2

Boogies' answer is partly correct. A lot of the hormones that are injected into cows, pigs, and other animals is one of the reasons why we are getting taller. Children are actually reaching puberty at earlier ages too because of the hormones, and bodies are decaying slower because of the preservatives we add. It really is kind of frightening.

But another reason is that our nutrition in America is much better than it was even 40-50 years ago, and we have far surpassed other nations when it comes to nutrition, which is why you'll notice people from a lot of underprivileged nations are shorter than Americans and Europeans. See, when a child is growing and they don't have the necessary nutrition, their body has to focus it's energy on keeping the child alive and healthy. When the child does have the needed nutrition, their body can focus on letting the child grow, rather than on expending energy trying to keep the child alive.

If you need reason to believe me on this, if you check the average height for males in America, you will see that it has gone up in the last several decades, but in the last several years it has gone down, because the number of immigrants to America from poorer countries (in particular from Southeast Asia and Central and South America) where nutrition is not as good as it is here.

Answer 3

it could be that she shrunk a bit

Answer 4

my opinion, newer generations got more nutrition than we did so they get taller. Not from the gene.

These days, pregnant mums got heaps of supplement choice, and nutritional milks for newborns. While when we were in our mom's womb, what did we get?? Not that much I think.

Answer 5

Height is dependent on our hormones produced by  our bodies.  If much were produced, the taller we become.  Recently, hormone medicine are used by teenager to grow taller.  I do believe the generation of your aunt was not able to use this product.  Anyway, I congratulate her for being tall.    

Answer 6

My wife beleives it has something to do with the hormones and stuff they are feeding the animals, which inturn we get through the meat and milk.  This stuff wasnt used till the 50's.  Also may be an answer as to why kids go thru puberty quicker.  As early as 9.  Makes you wonder.