In a recent report published in The Lancet, a fascinating trend has emerged from the heart of China: the nation’s people have been steadily growing taller over the past three decades. It’s an intriguing development that has caught the attention of scientists and researchers worldwide. In fact, the generation born after the turn of the millennium has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the tallest in all of East Asia. So, you might be wondering, just how tall are the Chinese people today? Stay with us as we delve into this intriguing transformation and unveil the average height of the Chinese population. It’s a story that not only reflects the nation’s progress but also raises thought-provoking questions about the factors driving this remarkable change.
The Factors Behind the Statistics
The average height of a population is a crucial indicator of the overall health and well-being of a nation. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the average height of Chinese people, as the country continues to emerge as a global economic powerhouse. In this article, we will explore the various factors that contribute to the average height of Chinese people, including genetics, lifestyle, and nutrition.
Genetics and Ethnicity
China is home to 56 ethnic groups, each with its unique genetic makeup. The Han Chinese, who make up over 90% of the population, have been the subject of most studies on the average height of Chinese people. Research has shown that the Han Chinese have a genetic predisposition towards being shorter than other ethnic groups, such as the Dutch or the Americans. While genetics play a significant role in determining height, other environmental factors also have an impact.
Nutritional Factors
Nutrition is a critical factor in determining the average height of a population. The Chinese diet traditionally consists of rice, vegetables, and small amounts of meat. However, in recent decades, the consumption of fast food and sugary drinks has increased dramatically, leading to a rise in obesity rates. Obesity is a leading cause of decreased height and overall health, and it is a growing concern in China.
Lifestyle Factors
Physical activity is also a crucial factor in determining the average height of a population. In China, urbanization and the rise of sedentary lifestyles have led to a decrease in physical activity levels. Children spend more time indoors and less time engaging in outdoor activities, leading to decreased bone density and decreased height.
Gender Differences
On average, Chinese men are taller than Chinese women. This is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including hormone levels and lifestyle differences. Men typically engage in more physical activity than women and have more muscle mass, contributing to their increased height.
Regional Differences
China is a vast country with diverse geography, climate, and culture. There are significant regional differences in the average height of the population, with residents of the northern provinces typically being taller than those in the south. These differences can be attributed to environmental factors, such as climate and nutrition.
What is the average of Chinese men and women?
We found that the average height of Chinese men is 5 feet 9 inches (175.7 centimeters), making them the tallest in East Asia and the fifth tallest in Asia. Meanwhile, the average height of Chinese women is 5 feet 4 inches (163.5 cm), the tallest in the region.
More importantly, the average height of Chinese men from 1985 to 2019 has increased by nearly 3.5 inches (9 centimeters). Among all the 200 countries and regions examined, the Chinese men attained the biggest rise in height while the women only ranked third.
What happened?
That said, the height of the Chinese people has risen in the past four decades.
During this period, the economy of China thrived, and the average Chinese individual’s income increased. This has increasingly improved nutrition standards.
Although the report in Lancet reveals no analysis, it is widely believed that milk plays a vital role in supporting bone growth due to its rich calcium content. In 2006, the consumption rate of milk and other dairy products between 7 and 17-year-old teens was 38.33% in urban areas and 4.65% in rural areas. But after ten years, the consumption rate was higher. The rates in urban and rural areas were 88.3% and 77.3%. But compared to the consumption rate in developed countries, it is not high [2].
How do Chinese people get taller? Drink plenty of milk
As mentioned above, milk is a decisive factor in supporting Chinese people’s height growth. The average consumption rate of milk and dairy products has been increasing year by year. Junior high and high school students are especially encouraged to drink milk daily to get enough calcium and other nutrients for their bodies.
Have a nutritious diet
Aside from consuming calcium-rich foods, Chinese people started paying attention to investing in a nutritious diet. They have built their meals around fresh fruits, vegetables, complex carbs, and lean proteins.
That said, a well-balanced diet with a sufficient intake of macro- and micronutrients might give the body all the nutrients it needs for healthy bone and height growth. Moreover, it could benefit your overall health.
Get enough sleep
Children need at least 11-14 hours of sleep a night, while teens need 8-11 hours to get a good night’s sleep every night so their bodies can repair themselves. Also, more and more human growth hormones are naturally secreted to support height growth during deep sleep.
In China, many proposals have been discussed to improve the quality of sleep in children. For instance, elementary and junior high students need to go to bed early at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.
Play basketball
Although basketball is quintessentially known as an American sport, it soon took a life of its own in China and became a mainstay on university campuses. Since more and more Chinese people play basketball today, their height has improved as well.
Yes, playing basketball regularly could add inches to height because of the continuous movements and jumping during a game. This allows the pituitary gland to secrete more growth hormones into the body.
Make the most of other supports
Do you know that a straight back may make you stand as much as two inches taller? That is why some parents use an anti-hunchback belt to help correct their children’s posture. But this one might make them uncomfortable.
Chinese people are also using other methods to improve their height, including:
Help children grow with well-known traditional soups like Ginseng soup with Tian Qi (a popular supplement in China) and peanut root soup. Get a traditional massage, called Tuina. It might regulate imbalances in the body to improve general health, digestive function, and sleep quality. Use height-growth supplements. Take a leg-lengthening surgery.
Is there anything else?
Recently, the young in China have been following some simple yet effective height-boosting exercises that they can perform at home with ease. According to experts, the exercises are helpful for improving your vertical look if you perform them regularly, consistently, and properly.
Do yoga
Yoga is trendy in China since it is a mix of physical activity, breathing, eating, and healthy living. Practicing yoga daily might help you gain strength, have better posture, and build body awareness. And all these benefits could add up to you standing taller.
Some particular yoga poses may support you to lengthen the spine and promote core strength to improve posture. These include child’s pose, cat-cow, cobra, standing forward bend, or high plank.
Jump rope
Surprisingly, jumping rope is a popular competitive sport that grade-school students must pass. It is simple yet effective for height gain if you do it for a long time, especially when you are in puberty. It is because jumping rope helps add bone mass as well as stretches your spine and back muscles to improve posture and balance.
Spot jump
Jumping itself does not support height growth as a kid. But jumping during puberty may be effective for bones to grow and make you get taller and taller. Basketball is known as a sport that requires you to jump a lot. However, if you do not have time to play it, you can try spot jumps at home to improve your height.
How?
Stand with your feet together. Place both hands by your sides or on your hips. Bend your knees and start jumping up and down for a certain amount of time or desired number of repetitions. In conclusion
The change in the average of Chinese people serves as a symbol of how quickly the economy of China has grown and the quality of life has also improved in just a few decades. Moreover, they give their whole mind to two important factors supporting height growth, including nutrition and exercise. That is why the next generations in China are getting taller.