Why does Netherlands have the tallest people (both men and women), why do they grow more?

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, over here in the US there are many girls in my college that already stopped growing between ages 12-14 or very shortly after getting their periods. There were also some guys that stopped growing when they were 15-16.

Even more shorter in Latin countries. I'm 5'6 (never grew again any anything after turning 13), which is supposely taller than the average Latina and US girl but I still don't consider that tall, even for a girl... nothing in comparing to Netherlands. Over there a 5'7 woman is just average. There are 5'10+ tall women. Is there some trick they do to grow more?

Updates

+1 y

No matter how much exercise I would do, it was over for me at that age. While, over there, many boys and girls do not stop growing just as soon they hit their teen years.

[ManThatKnewTooMuch]

It has to do with diet and disease over the course of several centuries.

European accounts of Native Americans in the New World as Tall, Strong, handsome people are available. You have to remember that Natives did not know disease and poor nutrition until the arrival of the European, when the European gave the Natives smallpox, slavery and served them diets of gruel/beans. As a result of these things our statures were stunted over the years and it has just progressively carried on in our physiology.

While Latinos were growing shorter, Europeans were growing taller because of all the resources they would take with them back to Europe . We gave them the squash, the bean, the coffee bean, potatoes, chiles, maize, etc. Europe still flourishes and so after several centuries of good diet and health, their people have grown.

That's basically it. If you go to Latin countries they make it a point to remember how big, strong, and smart the natives were, which Europeans seem to forget. Well, when you've conquered the world I suppose it's easy to become ethnocentric, right?

[Asker]

No wonder, now it makes sense. I always thought that a 12-14 year-old girl was still a child (that's not even close to being an adult) that has a chance to continue growing as it would be if more countries started having the same diet as them. But until that happens, it's going to take many, many years.
Interesting, I was just reading that at one point the US had taller people before WWI but after WWII, that's when the average height for a woman dropped to 5'4 and for a guy 5'9.

[ManThatKnewTooMuch]

Well, after WWII there was an influx of immigrants from non-European countries. That would explain that statistic :o)

[vickiezalez]

Love this answer 🙌👏

Tis True though about the natives. People sometimes think we're BSing them bc most Latinos are short but it wasn't so a few centuries ago.

[ManThatKnewTooMuch]

Nope, it wasn't. My fam is from Peru and when I was down there we got on that topic. They told me exactly what I told you. It hit a chord with me because I remembered a History Professor in college talking about that too, except he was talking about Columbus and the Arawaks, they lived on a seafood and berry diet, incredibly rich, they were all 6 footers.

[ManThatKnewTooMuch]

@vickiezalez

[GamerArtNerd]

Umm... I don't know where you are getting these statistics because the average woman stops growing between the ages of 16 and 18 and men stop between 18 and 20. I personally stopped growing at 16 but I'm 6'1" the average height for an American woman is 5'5" and a man is 5'10" Average heights in most Scandanavian countries (for men) are 5'11" and 6'0" which is only 1 or 2 inches taller than Americans. These are only averages though which means that any other variation is directly influenced by genes and cultural diets. For example, I'm a black American and most of our ancestors come from Western Africa. However the Average Nigerian male only grows to 5'4." 24% of my DNA can be traced to Mali and their average men only grow to be 5'7." The average heights of American blacks and whites are BOTH 5'10." So again the biggest factor has to do with cultural diets. Another example can be found in the average heights of North Koreans and South Koreans. They are the same race genetically but their diets and lifestyles are vastly different so South Koreans are significantly taller.

[Anonymous]

It has to do with the region. I read a book called "the tall book" by cohens I think and she gives all the statical information you want so I'd consider buying it. I'm 6'1" and I got my height simply on genes even though my parents are from South America... I actually moved to Netherlands for a couple of months to live the tall life and where I could find clothes and beds my size. It's truly wonderful and the MEN oh my are heaven

[Asker]

Lucky you. That's a great height to be model or even play women's basketball.

[Opinion Owner]

I play basketball and tennis. Yeah Im happy since this was my ideal height:)) thanks

[Lindsaylove5]

haha story of my life. My family is very tall.. and we are all Nordic.

My dad is blonde haired and blue eyed, 6'1
My mom is 5'11
twin cousins are 6'1
grandfather was 6'3
both grandmas 5'10

I come from the land of the giants... I'm done growing at 5'8 (shortest one in my family)

[Asker]

cool

[Climber]

According to some studies, its due to the fact they drink a lot of milk since childhood and get a lot of calcium due to that which helps developing the bone structure.

[Littlett25]

A lot of it has to deal with their gene pool (probably). I'm not sure if there are other factors in it.

[Asker]

I guess probably the type of nutrition there and maybe girls get their periods late and so have more time to grow more.

[YazanAA]

I think we need to ask this for @vekin.

by the way 5'6 is considered tall for a girl in my opinion.

[Asker]

For a Latina yes but overall I don't think so. For instance if a girl wants to be a model and not just catwalk she has to be at least 5'8 or 5'9.

[hypno-trip]

I don't know but I think being tall is overrated. After awhile you're just stretching your body out...

[hypno-trip]

I do wish I were a littler taller but not as tall as 6 feet.

[Asker]

yeah if I were given the wish to be taller, I would say ''give me two more inches''. I think a tall woman starts being tall at 5'8.

[hypno-trip]

Yeah I'd like to be 5' 8" -__-...

[Mr_Wolf]

I'm already 5ft 11 maybe 6 ft at 16 I'm hoping be 6ft 3 or 2 by the time I stop growing

[vekin]

many tall people in The Netherlands, unfortunately i am just 175... it was so great to be in Spain, i felt tall for once in my life

[JohnBelluci]

Montenegro has the tallest men.

[bubbletrouble]

Their diets have changed over the years

[xxbebosxx]

5'6 is not short for a girl. I'm 5'9

[Asker]

That's a good height and actually required if a girl wants to be a model. You're lucky to have that height.

[xxbebosxx]

thanks

[iloveher26]

O don't know if they grow more... I am Indian, 6"6

[iloveher26]

*I... Not O... Typing mistake...

[Mr_Wolf]

Lol O I do lol female on average stop growing around 14 to 16 in height then maturing little later

[Mr_Wolf]

In body