Are American people taller than English people?

Ksim3000 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 2:40 pm Are American people taller than English people?**

Hi all,

Lately, I have been doing some research into the height of both American and British people. Now, even though we are related to one another, I found this to be most interesting.

According to many fact sheets, it appears that the majority of Americans are actually 6'0 (Male of course) where as the females tend to be more 5'9. Now, here in Britain, it actually said that the majority of English people are 5'7 or 5'6, well, basically around 5'0 and not 6'0. This goes the same to leaders. The majority of American Presidents were actually 6'0, including George Washington, where as our leaders have always been around 5'0.

Now, this is indeed interesting I must say. Are Americans really taller than English and why do you think that would be?

Jeff Miller · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 2:42 pm**

I think it has something to do with enviroment I can't get real specific its just what I feel.

Ksim3000 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:03 pm**

That could be true Jeff although another theory someone did come up with was that most of The English that emigrated to America were actually Farmers, Miners and Lumberjacks, which of course are far taller than your average Aristocrat or Middle Class due to the demanding of the work and remember, not many Aristocrats and Middle Classes did emigrate to America so it could be one issue.

Still, if anyone has any information, please feel free to tell as this enviroment issue Jeff mentioned sounds interesting.

Also, by the way, I am 5'8.

sabertooth1217 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:08 pm**

I'm 6'0'' and my Father is 6'1'' and grandfather 6'3''
My sister is 5'8''
All from america

Ksim3000 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:11 pm**

Oh, here is a snippet too although they got the female height wrong for both The English and Americans. Really, it is The English females that are smaller and The American females that are taller. Still, here it is.

The average height for an early 17th-century English man
was approximately 176 cm (5� 6"). For 17th-century English
women, it was about 181 cm (5� 8"). While average heights in
England remained virtually unchanged in the 17th and
18th centuries, American colonists grew taller. Averages
for modern Americans are just over 183 cm (5� 9") for men,and
about 168 cm (5� 3") for women. The main reasons for this
difference are improved nutrition, notably increased
consumption of meat and milk, and antibiotics.

Thomas · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:13 pm**

I'm a five foot tall British male,

Ksim3000 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:13 pm**

Starbuck · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 4:11 pm**

I'm 5'9", my mom is 5'2", and my dad was 6'3" before his back surgery.

Ronevick · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 4:21 pm**

I'm 5'8" or 5'9", my dad's 6'3", and my mom's 5'7". We're all from America.

Kate Janeway · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 4:36 pm**

I think it's partly genetics and partly environment.

Commander Ranahan · Doctor Joined: 11 Oct 2001 Posts: 9519 Location: Guam

well im 6'3 and way 210 plus im from portugal so i cant realy say that it has something to do with enviroment but gentics.

superwoman · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 5:37 pm**

Ksim3000 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:31 pm**

I happen to agree with many of you here that it is genetics but still, it strikes me as being quite strange that even the majority of American Presidents were either 6'3 or even 5'11, in comparison to your average Englishman that is at average 5'9. Rarely you get an Englishman as tall as 6'0 but according to even research, the majority of Americans are 6'0 or around that area. Rarely it says that they tend to be around 5'1 as an example.

Still, it is all interesting. Also, as for Superwoman's question, what I meant to say is that America never really had The Aristocrats or The Middle Classes move to America. For them, it was more your Farmers, Miners and Lumberjacks, which of course, are quite challenging jobs. So........perhaps a reason for us being smaller than Americans could be part of that? Remember, they needed quite tall people to do that work, although in saying that, yes, we have Farmers here ourselves.

Still, that was a theory from someone else.

B'Elanna Torres 7 of 9 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:33 pm**

I'm 5 feet even...shorty! i know quite a few people who are short, but I concider the average height of girls to be is like 5'6''-5'7''. That's what like most of my friends are anyways. There are a lot of tall people though I know of i guess when i think of it. I guess i really couold't say who's taller!

Ksim3000 · **Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:35 pm**

Really? That is once again interesting as most of The Girls I know of happen to be more 5'5 or 5'6 atleast, not very tall in comparison.

~Voyager Fanatic~ · Super Genius Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 1787

Maybe the food they eat effects their height...

Seven of Nine · **Wed Jul 07, 2004 5:16 pm**

*decides to screw them up

*

I'm 6'1". My sister is 5'9" and growing. My dad is 6'4", most of my uncles on my dad's side are between 6' and 6'7". I live in England

Ksim3000 · **Wed Jul 07, 2004 6:03 pm**

(Scratches head)

Seven of Nine, are you playing tricks on us or are you generally being true?

Seven of Nine · **Thu Jul 08, 2004 4:57 am**

I'm being true, ask Kai if I'm tall or not

My dad is one of 18, so he's got a few brothers, most of whom are very tall.

Morphy · Forum Ogre Joined: 15 Jun 2001 Posts: 3858

I hope this cute little thing grows up tall!

syd2002 · **Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:06 pm**

By looking at the numbers, it might be true that Americans are taller than the British. But I cant really say because I'm neither Britsh nor American.

Seven of Nine · **Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:14 pm**

Ksim3000 · **Thu Jul 08, 2004 4:35 pm**

Ksim3000 · **Thu Jul 08, 2004 4:36 pm**

Sonic74205 · **Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:36 pm**

I wander if it's because maybe more people smoke in the UK?

My Moms 5'2"
My Dads 5'7"
I'm 5'7" and i think i will be 5'9" by the time i've fully grown. I wish i would be 5'10"
Thats why i take Zinc and Vitamin A everyday. Also i eat lots of bread to make me taller as well