Height is often considered a crucial factor in modern beauty standards. Nevertheless, given the significant variation in average heights among different nations, the ideal height can differ from place to place. Today, we will reveal an interesting fact about the average heights of Indian men and women. Compared to the global average, are Indians generally taller or shorter? To find out the answer, read on in this article!
The average height of Indian men
On average, an Indian man is 5 feet 5.5 inches (166.5 cm) [1].
The average height of Indian women
Meanwhile, the average height of Indian women is 5 feet 1.1 inches (155.2 cm) [1].
The average height of Indians compared to the world
A paper published on September 17, 2021, titled “Trends of adult height in India from 1998 to 2015: Evidence from the National Family and Health Survey”, by Krishna Kumar Choudhary, Sayan Das, and Prachinkumar Ghodajkar from the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health claims that, despite an increase in global average height, Indians’ average height is actually decreasing [2].
Based on the National Family and Health Surveys, the study analyzes trends in the heights of Indian men and women between the ages of 15-25 and 26-50. It comes to the conclusion that India’s indicators are decreasing.
This is troubling because average height is one of the most fundamental factors to evaluate a nation’s public health situation. It can also affect other social and economic aspects of that nation like caste and income. Therefore, a decline in average height in India shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Why is Idians’ height decreasing?
India has had a record of performing poorly on health indicators. According to the 2020 Global Hunger Index, it ranked 94 out of 107 nations in hunger level [2]. One-third of the world’s stunted youngsters reside there.
Currently, public health indicators in India seem to be getting worse, which makes the situation even more concerning. Children’s nutrition levels have been worse since National Family Health Survey IV (NHFS-IV), according to NHFS-V(2019–20), which has released its phase-1 data from 22 states and Union Territories (the dataset used by this paper) [3]. This might indicate a rise in child stunting as seven out of ten significant states in India have witnessed a rise in the number of underweight children during the last four years.
Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 has had a huge negative influence on India’s public health. According to a survey by Jean Drèze and Anmol Somanchi, 53%–77% of respondents reported eating less during the epidemic than they had in the past [4]. In addition, according to statistics from the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy, consumption of foods that are high in protein and nutrients fell sharply across all income groups during the pandemic.
What can Indian people do to get taller?
Factors that affect heights
Genetics
The primary factor that determines someone’s height is genetics. Height is influenced by about 700 distinct genes: Some have an impact on the growth plates, while others may be in charge of producing growth hormones.
Unfortunately, there is nothing much you can do to change your genetic features.
Hormones
The hormones that our body naturally produces encourage the growth plates to make new bones. The most important growth hormones, produced by the pituitary gland, are human growth hormones. In addition, sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen are also necessary for growth during puberty.
Currently, there are many human growth hormones (HGH) supplements on the market. However, not many of them are trustworthy enough. Some of the most highly recommended products are HGH-X2, HyperGH 14X, GenF20 Plus, etc.
Gender and age
In reality, while boys are usually shorter than girls, men are often taller than women. Women generally go through a growth spurt around the age of 12, but after their menstrual cycle starts, their height will start to decline. Men will continue to grow taller than women even though they experience a growth spurt about 2 years later than their female counterparts.
Healthy Meals
Studies have found that nutritional meals can improve one’s height over time, especially if they are still in their growing years.
Many people have combined dietary supplements with their daily meals to gain a greater height. This is because nutritional supplements usually contain many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fish oils, herbal teas, and more. Here are some of the top height-increasing supplements: NuBest Tall, Height Growth Maximizer, Grow Power, SmartyPants, Doctor Plus,…
Actions to take to grow taller
Sleep
While skipping sleep regularly does not pose a serious threat to height, over time it may lower one’s height. Children are particularly vulnerable to stunted development since their bodies are still developing. Additionally, lack of sleep can also lower HGH levels, which could impede the growth and recovery of bones and muscles.
Exercise
Daily exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, build stronger muscles, and produce more HGH. Moreover, becoming active early in life may also help a child reach their full height in adulthood. You should encourage your kids to participate in activities like stretching, aerobics, or strength-building exercises.
Posture
If you slouch frequently, your curves may get used to the new posture, which makes you appear shorter than you actually are. Additionally, it could also hurt your neck and back. Therefore, it’s important to maintain a proper posture while standing, sitting, and walking.
In summary
India’s current undernutrition situation and poor economic growth are reflected in its people’s average height. The country is facing a wide range of issues including the caste system, the land system, labor regulations, and many other issues. The fact that there haven’t been any significant improvements to address these issues shows how challenging the reforms are. In terms of health in general, India still has a long way to go and many actions to take so its people can grow taller and healthier.
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