Question: Why are there more extremes in height than 50 years ago?

Angela Stokes answered on 12 Nov 2014:

Hi653chea43
I guess there are two main reasons. Firstly we have a better diet and have a much better intake of vitamins, minerals and protein and as a consequence the body can grow much better and secondly there are fewer endemic diseases which means the nutrients we do consume are used more efficiently. This is also important because when we have a disease some of the energy from food is used to fight disease leaving less for growth. So it is simply because we are healthier and have better nutrition so those with ‘tall’ genes are less hindered by environmental factors.