There is no denying that being tall is an asset in the contemporary world. People are judged based on their stature and for many, height is a source of pride and recognized physical beauty.
While citizens of developed countries have an average height of 6 feet, the height of Chinese people is comparatively lower. In this article, we will discuss the average height of the Chinese population and what factors contribute towards it.
What Factors Influence the Height of Chinese People?
The average height of the Chinese population mainly depends on factors such as genetics, nutrition and environment. Genetic factors determine the maximum limit till which a person’s height can grow, while other factors such as nutrition, sleeping patterns and a healthy lifestyle can contribute towards making sure they reach their maximum potential. Genetics play a major role in determining the height of a person, as they are generally inherited from both parents.
A person’s height is determined more than 55% by both the maternal and paternal genes. The other 45% depend on various external factors like nutrition and environment.
Studies have shown that the availability of food and the amount of nutrients in it can have a direct effect on the growth of an individual. For example, deficiencies of iron and iodine can have adverse effects on the height of a person.
The environment can also have a direct effect on height. Pollution of heavy metals like lead and arsenic have a direct effect on the physical growth of a person. This can be especially damaging for young children and for expecting mothers, as pollutions can get into the foetus and affect their development.
Further, lifestyle choices like excessive smoking or hazardous drinking can also negatively impact the growth of a person.
What is the Average Height of the Chinese Population?
Studies have shown that the average height of a person in mainland China is around 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 8 inches, depending on the age and gender of the person. An analysis of the population carried out by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that on an average, men in China stand at 163 cm (
41 feet), while women stand slightly shorter at 153 cm (
08 feet). This suggests that about 69% of the Chinese population is below the average height of worldwide populations.
While the numbers vary from region to region, the overall national average still falls short. In comparison to other countries in the region, China stands relatively shorter. A 2015 study of 18 Asian countries showed that mainland Chinese people stood at number 15 in the list of tallest populations of East and South Asian countries.
Bangladesh and Nepal currently stand at the bottom of the list, with a recorded average height of 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 5 inches respectively. Children in China also trail behind other countries in terms of height.
An analysis revealed that children in rich countries were taller than their peers in developing countries. The study revealed that Chinese kids in the 15-19 age group were 3 cm shorter than those in the United States, 6 cm shorter than those in Japan, and 9 cm shorter than those in the United Kingdom.
What are the Causes of the Low Average Height in China?
The average height of the Chinese population can be attributed to certain social, economic and dietary factors. Social factors like gender roles and family structure can also contribute to the disparity in height between various nations. China has seen rapid economic growth over the past few decades and this has led to the emergence of a middle class.
However, this economic growth has been accompanied by huge social disparities and unequal access to resources. These disparities make it difficult for poor Chinese children to access adequate nutrition and health, leading to stunted growth.
The gap in income and corresponding access to nutrition also causes a huge gender disparity in terms of height. Since Chinese parents prefer boys over girls, boys tend to be given better nutrition and healthcare services than girls.
Studies have revealed that Chinese rural boys tend to be taller than the average height, while girls fail to grow to the same heights. Apart from nutrition and unequal access to resources, dietary habits also contribute to the low average height of Chinese people. The contemporary Chinese diet tends to be high in calories, but low in micronutrients like iron, iodine and zinc.
Poor dietary habits and lack of access to mineral and nutrient-rich foods means that Chinese people fail to receive the proper nutrition they need to reach their maximum potential in terms of height.
Can the Average Height of the Chinese Population be Improved?
There is no doubt that Chinese people are not as tall as the rest of the world and this can be attributed to various factors including nutrition, unequal access to resources and genetics. In order to reach the global standard of height, the Chinese population needs to address some of these issues. However, it is impossible to ignore the broad economic and social disparities between the rich and the poor that contribute to this disparity.
Government and public programs that promote equality of access to resources and nutrition, while providing comprehensive health and education services can greatly improve the height of the average Chinese person. Such programs can also be complemented with dietary changes and education to improve the average height of the Chinese population.
Apart from this, lifestyle changes like reducing smoking, drinking and getting enough exercise can ensure that people maximize their height potential. Regular medical check-ups to detect any deficiencies or imbalance can also help people get better nutrition.
Conclusion
The average height of Chinese population falls short when compared to the rest of the world. However, with proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, government programs and bridging the gap of equality of access, the average height of the Chinese population can certainly be improved, bringing them closer to their global counterparts.