Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 25/11/2008 12:53:06

Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: neilep on 25/11/2008 12:53:06
Dearest Ewe Lot,

It is generally considered that your children will be taller than ewe. Something of the factor of 1-5%. As I said, it's a generalisation that seems to be borne true (I do like the Bourne films..do ewe ?)

Look, here are some tall kids !

 [ Invalid Attachment ]


Tall eh ?..the parents are there too....in their backpacks !

So, why is it generally considered that your kids (in most cases) will be taller than ewe ?

Ewe see.. I just don't know !

I'll ask Neda our Bulgarian cleaner when she turns up in fifteen minutes but she'll probably just giggle and say " Yes please I think Mr Neil " like she always does. I don't think that will be the answer !

So..whajafink ?


Thanking Ewe

Hugs and Shmishes

mwah mwah mwah mwah



Neil
Not Afraid To Have Tall Offspring
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx












Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: JnA on 25/11/2008 22:33:46
My guess is better nutrition, easier lifestyle.

It has been shown that the nutritional habits of pregnant women reflect on their unborn baby's health later in life. I would suggest that height is probably linked, though more likely nutrition at birth and on has more of an effect.
We (collectively the western world) are never short of a drop of milk to give to our kiddies, making strong healthy bones. Do children in countries where milk is harder to obtain show the same strength in height?
We also don't load them (children) up with grains and water to carry home (well, I do that on weekends and race them, but that's another story) Lack of load on growing bones helps them to grow stronger and longer.
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: RD on 26/11/2008 04:44:00
Lack of load on growing bones helps them to grow stronger.

Not according to NASA ...

Quote
The osteoporosis (bone loss) which develops in microgravity is one of the greatest hurdles to an extended human presence in space. A recently published study of International Space Station crewmembers found that, on average, they lost bone density in the hip at the rate of 1.6 to 2.7 percent per month, a serious and unacceptable consequence for a crew during transit to Mars. Earth-based human and animal studies have demonstrated that extremely low magnitude mechanical loading, if imposed at a high frequency, can inhibit bone loss in the load-bearing skeleton.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/VIBE.html
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Don_1 on 26/11/2008 07:58:38
I think it has alot to do with genetics. If your parents have 29" inside leg jeans and you have 31" inside leg jeans then you must be taller than your parents or your jeans will drag along the floor.

In the instance you have shown above, it may have more to do with trousers (US pants) than jeans.


Ahhh! I seem to have got my jeans and my genes in a bit of a muddle......
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: neilep on 26/11/2008 17:39:35
My guess is better nutrition, easier lifestyle.

It has been shown that the nutritional habits of pregnant women reflect on their unborn baby's health later in life. I would suggest that height is probably linked, though more likely nutrition at birth and on has more of an effect.
We (collectively the western world) are never short of a drop of milk to give to our kiddies, making strong healthy bones. Do children in countries where milk is harder to obtain show the same strength in height?
We also don't load them (children) up with grains and water to carry home (well, I do that on weekends and race them, but that's another story) Lack of load on growing bones helps them to grow stronger and longer.

Thanks JnA. I can't vouch for countries in the "third world". This is why I needed to make it clear that it was a broad generalisation. Your nutritional idea seems absolutely valid and sound to me and I thank you for your comment. I was wondering if it was lifestyle or a genetic consequence.

Hugs

Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: neilep on 26/11/2008 17:43:19
Lack of load on growing bones helps them to grow stronger.

Not according to NASA ...

Quote
The osteoporosis (bone loss) which develops in microgravity is one of the greatest hurdles to an extended human presence in space. A recently published study of International Space Station crewmembers found that, on average, they lost bone density in the hip at the rate of 1.6 to 2.7 percent per month, a serious and unacceptable consequence for a crew during transit to Mars. Earth-based human and animal studies have demonstrated that extremely low magnitude mechanical loading, if imposed at a high frequency, can inhibit bone loss in the load-bearing skeleton.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/VIBE.html

Great info as always..Thanks RD
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: neilep on 26/11/2008 17:44:03
I think it has alot to do with genetics. If your parents have 29" inside leg jeans and you have 31" inside leg jeans then you must be taller than your parents or your jeans will drag along the floor.

In the instance you have shown above, it may have more to do with trousers (US pants) than jeans.


Ahhh! I seem to have got my jeans and my genes in a bit of a muddle......

Best pair of jeans I ever bought was ASDAS Value range at £3 !!..they are great !!
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Evie on 26/11/2008 18:19:59
This is a completely unresearched comment on my part, but I have heard tidbits floating around the global mind that it could have to do with growth hormones in our animal food products and things of that nature.
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 28/11/2008 03:16:45
Isn't it to do with the environmantal factors??
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: MMTA on 13/04/2009 04:20:34
Actually, the load on our bones helps them to grow, so lower gravity probably wouldn't help.

Also, not everyone is getting taller - Black American women are getting smaller as a result of their diets, and the average height of Americans is decreasing too, although some of that may be due to nutrition rather than natural evolution :)
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/04/2009 05:28:46
Interesting. [:)]
I didn't know about the Americans getting shorter. [:o]
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Raghavendra on 13/04/2009 07:22:01
Because they are developed [:P]
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/04/2009 05:51:31
So is that why I am big busted and have large muscled calves  and upper thighes? loland I am only 5' 2 and 1/2 inches tall.
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Don_1 on 14/04/2009 08:41:20
Hmmm odd, I read somewhere that the average height of Americans is now 2.5 in. taller than at the end of the civil war.
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/04/2009 09:11:00
Hmmm...

If you believe this, it's good news for you: http://crackerboy.us/2007/07/11/americans-are-getting-shorter-while-europeans-get-taller-nutrition/
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/04/2009 20:12:12
Hmmm odd, I read somewhere that the average height of Americans is now 2.5 in. taller than at the end of the civil war.

 I am 5 and 12 inches taller then my Sister. she is about 4 ft. 9 inches inches tall. my oldest sister is about 5'4 or 5. My mom was my height &..my brother Tim is about  5' 9 or 10.. my half sister  is about 5 '7 Like My 5 '7in. Daughter. My sons are all about Bobs hieght..5' 10 , youngest 5' 8 or 9 same for John.... 
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 15/04/2009 08:05:23
I don't get all this feet business. Is it just me? [:)]
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/04/2009 11:11:53
12 inher per foot,  1 foot is a unit of measure equaling 12 inches per foot.... about the length af an average foot. get it?
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Raghavendra on 15/04/2009 11:13:19
And you karen? How much  taller are you than your kids.....
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/04/2009 11:20:42
They are all 5 to 8 inches taller then me...I am a shorty!
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Yomi on 15/04/2009 11:21:19
I am 2 feet taller than my parents!!!!!!! [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D]
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/04/2009 11:24:25
I am shorter then my own parents also.
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Yomi on 15/04/2009 11:25:38
My height is 6.7 and my parents are just 5.1 [:)] [:)] [:)] [:)]
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Yomi on 15/04/2009 11:34:38
Ya!!!!!!!!! [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D] [;D]
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Raghavendra on 15/04/2009 11:35:22
cool
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/04/2009 11:38:09
Wow!!! You are very Tall! cool! I bet you could reach all the apples in my apple ree without the latter!
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/04/2009 11:47:11
lol....anyones welcome to come pick apples any time ou want..Lol.. they won'T be ready until October! Lol... blackberries in august!
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: Make it Lady on 15/04/2009 17:31:33
I ate really well when I was pregnant with Murray. He was a whopping baby. It still brings a tear to the eye thinking how big he was at birth. Then with Fred I was too busy looking after Murray to look after myself so well and Fred was tall but skinny at birth. Murray is healthy most of the time and is growing like a weed. Fred seems to be slower growing and constantly has tonsilitus. So perhaps the nutrition during pregnancy theory is correct.

Japanese teenagers height have been very noticably greater. When I lived their 21 years ago, meat was very expensive and hard to get hold of. Now meat is cheaper and common place. There diet has also become more western and the result seems to be taller and fatter people. It is bound to end in tears.
ASDA Jeans Tisk, Tisk!
Title: Why Will Our Kids Be Taller Than Us ?
Post by: DrN on 21/04/2009 22:32:49
I'm exactly the same height as my mum, and shorter than my dad. Hmm. A sign that i was a deprived child?  [???] Or maybe they had a pretty good diet back in the 50s? post-war, end of rationing, but still growing their own fruit and veg?