Besides genetics is it really nutrition and health always making Northern Europeans taller than other populations?

[Vesuvius87]

For instance, people of European descent were always taller than Latinos, Chinese, Japanese, etc.

It was quite surprising to discover the average height for a woman from my country (Peru) is still at 152.9 cm, which is between 5 to 5'1 according to Google. When my first period started at age 11, I was 5'2. Apparently I broke the ''only grow 2 inches after your period'' rule. I grew to be 5'7.

My mother claims PE (physical education) classes I had during my school years and a good nutrition (fish, seafood, vegetables, milk, etc) could've helped out too. Health and nutrition have been improving lately and there has been an increase in growth among other populations. So is it really just genetics or overall health? Would Native Americans, Latinos, Chinese or Japanese been taller if they had a diet rich in proteins?

[Nikki1989]

While genetics sets the potential height range, environment determines how close a population gets to reaching that potential.

[OlderAndWiser]

It's not either/or. It's both.

[slatyb]

What else is there besides genetics and nutrition?

[Vesuvius87]

I was just reading about a mutation on the FBN1 gene is actually what's causing people in my country (Peru) to be shorter. So basically shortness is actually a mutation. If we don't have any mutations, then we would all be average height at least.

[slatyb]

Every trait is or was a mutation at some time. Blue eyes and light skin are both relatively recent mutations.

[Jennz6]

Really?

[Vesuvius87]

According to my son's pediatrician, studies were done but it isn't entirely genetics. I don't deny genetics plays a major role but the environment and a diet rich in proteins can influence it too.
At some point, there is an origin as why certain populations are taller than others. Where did it all started? For sure food played a role too.

[roy_ricky09]

Mainly genetics

[Vesuvius87]

Indeed. Though it makes me wonder how many would've been genetically taller but due to malnutrition or bad health, their full potential growth got stunt, esp in poorer countries.

[roy_ricky09]

That's your opinion, but it doesn't work like that. In that case Africans wouldn't be tall at all.