Longevity & Height

In the past, some studies hypothesized that tallness correlates to longevity; partly as a result, society began to value height and even look down on shortness. More recent research, however, has revealed the flaws in those previous studies and found a completely different result. "Experimental Gerontology" declared in 2009 that shorter people face fewer health risks, which positively impacts their death rates.

Correlation

Shorter people tend to live longer lives than taller people, concluded a study published in "Life Sciences." The study, which examined "millions of deaths," found that this correlation applies to both animals and people; smaller people have more longevity than taller people, and smaller animals live longer than larger animals of the same species.

Scholars have already found numerous connections between obesity and shorter lifespans, but this research shows that vertical smallness, as well as overall thinness, offers overall health benefits to the human body.

Disease

A study in the "Western Journal of Medicine" found that taller people, especially those who grew quickly, have higher risks of cancer. A taller person's body contains more cells, which increases the chance that one cell will succumb to carcinogens. Taller people also tend to develop some chronic diseases more often than short people, noted "Life Sciences." Similarly, "Experimental Gerontology" found that short people experience lower rates of coronary heart disease and stroke.

The bodies of people who grew rapidly may follow that same pattern, even after growth stops, by aging more quickly.

Gender, Height and Longevity

Scientists have known for a long time that women have longer lifespans on average than men. Although many factors affect this statistic, "Life Sciences" suggests that the difference in the genders' average heights -- the average woman stands 5 inches shorter than the average man -- may play a vital role in their contrasting longevities.

Additionally, according to the "Western Journal of Medicine," height relates to risk of coronary heart disease. Women's lower risk of heart disease, which enhances their life expectancy, may stem partly from their shorter heights.

Warning

Despite the health and longevity benefits of short stature, society views tallness as desirable. Although this has not mattered significantly in the past, since people cannot control their heights, scholars worry that the future of genetic engineering may turn this cultural misconception into a societal disaster. If parents choose to create babies with genetically engineered tallness, then upcoming generations could -- as a direct result -- experience shorter lifespans, along with increasing rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke and other causes of ill health and death.