‘I’m well over 6ft tall – is that bad for my health?’

Being tall is seen as a desirable trait but a doctor has revealed why it may not be a good thing after all.

Height and longevity: Do tall people have shorter lives? Picture: iStock

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week Dr Zac Turner explains why being tall may come with health risks.

QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, my nonna loves to tell me what to do. Particularly that I need to stop growing. She thinks tall people live shorter lives, and uses my five-five-five nonno as an example. He lived to a healthy 96 years old, and she claims it was because he was short!

Is she right? Will my tall figure lead to my timely death? I’m 190cm tall. – Luca, 31, Sydney

ANSWER: Being tall is the dream for so many people – particularly young men. Some even get awful limb lengthening surgery that leaves them hobbling just so they can be part of the six foot club. Genetics play a big role in how tall someone is, but nutritional intake during infancy and childhood also determines adult height.

Being tall is the dream for so many people – particularly young men. Picture: iStock

Stats

Recent studies have attempted to connect the dots between height and age expectancy, and the ones that have completed are showing members of the six foot club may be dying sooner. The studies found possible links between height and certain diseases, and theorised this leads to a shorter life.

Researchers have looked at millions of deaths and discovered shorter people lead sweeter lives, and have lower death rates and fewer chronic diseases. They even double checked this with animals, and found smaller animals within the same species generally live longer.

A study of American men and women found a connection between height and cancer risk, as well as death from all causes. It found an additional inch increase in height generated a 2.2 per cent higher risk of death from all causes for men, and a 2.5 per cent higher risk of death from all causes for women.

An additional inch increase in height generated a 7.1 per cent higher risk of death from cancer for men, and a 5.7 per cent higher risk of death from cancer for women.

Genetics play a big role in how tall someone is, but so does nutritional intake during infancy and childhood. Picture: iStock

Tall order

This is an interesting topic because parents using IVF can now determine through genetic choice how tall their child is. Ask yourself right now, do you want your future child to be short or tall? If you could choose, which would you pick? Most people would say tall.

Before I make everyone tall-phobic, I need to remind you of other variables; genotype variations, socio-economic factors, medical care, weight, education, nutrition, exercise and smoking are all factors in determining longevity.

So how does this all work?

Well there are a few theories. Because taller people have bigger bones, and larger organs, they need to eat more calories just to function optimally. Shorter people don’t need as much, and therefore eat less calories. Many of the chronic diseases more prevalent in tall people are diet based, and that’s the dot being connected in this theory.

A more complex theory is that short people have fewer cells. In fact, a tall person has a trillion more cells compared to a short person. This allows for greater exposure and impact to cells from free radicals and carcinogens. More cells means more cell replications. As people age, replacement cells may no longer be available to repair tissue and organ damage in taller people.

These are just theories and haven’t been fully proved. I would put them in the mildly interesting yet concerning pile until researchers discover breakthrough evidence.

A lifespan is determined by so many factors, including lifestyle and environmental. Picture: iStock

A lifespan is determined by so many factors, including lifestyle and environmental. Focusing on positive habits and regular health check-ups can contribute to a longer and healthier life.

If I was you, I would worry less about your height and more about what you do daily to contribute to your health.

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Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was also a registered nurse and is a qualified and experienced biomedical scientist along with being a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering.

Originally published as ‘I’m well over 6ft tall – is that bad for my health?’