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19-year-old Norwegians have gotten a bit taller since 1985. This is small compared to young people from other countries.
In 1985, Norwegian youth ranked eighth among the tallest in the world. We have now dropped to 17th on the same list. Photo: Shutterstock / NTB (illustration photo)
In 1985, Norwegian 19-year-old boys in eighth place were among the tallest in the world. We have now dropped to 17th on the same list.
It shows a study published in the medical journal The Lancet. Forskning.no has also mentioned the survey.
Sweden shows the same trend as Norway, while Denmark and Iceland are high on the charts. The Dutch are the tallest.
Norwegian girls have also become shorter compared to girls from other countries. From 11th place in 1985 to 24th place in 2019.
Since 1985, Norwegian girls have grown half a centimeter taller at 166.4 centimeters, while boys have become almost 1 centimeter taller and are now 180.5 centimeters.
The study was conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) research group. They have analyzed information on the height and body mass index (BMI) of up to 65 million children and young people between the ages of 5 and 19 in 200 countries.
Pediatrician and researcher Pétur Benedikt Juliusson of the National Institute of Public Health doesn’t think the figures are surprising.
– The fact that young Norwegians have not grown so much in recent decades compared to many others, means that they have had good conditions all this time, while conditions have improved in other countries, he explains.
The survey confirms that European citizens are doing well, Juliusson believes. Variations between Nordic countries, he believes, may be due to differences in how the figures are obtained.
Juliusson emphasizes that 80 percent of growth is said to be genetically determined.
– At the same time, growth can reflect the conditions of society. Good nutrition and the absence of disease optimize growth, he says.
Lower in Southeast Asia
According to the growth survey, the world’s shortest people are found in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa. In East Timor, they are the shortest with an average of 160 centimeters for 19-year-olds.
The country is followed by Laos, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea on the list of the lowest children.
The lowest average girls are found in Guatemala (150 centimeters), Bangladesh, Nepal and East Timor.
Like pediatrician Pétur Benedikt Juliusson, researchers emphasize that genetic factors explain much of the explanation. But they also write that nutrition and the growing environment at home and at school affect height and BMI.
This, in turn, can have an impact on people’s health in the future.
One example cited is Chinese children. Since 1985, they have grown an average of 8 centimeters taller. Chinese girls have grown six centimeters more.
Everybody is getting fat
The survey also shows that the weight of children and young people has increased in almost all countries. It is positive that you have lost weight. But researchers worry that the proportion of people who are overweight and obese is increasing.
Obesity and obesity among children are a problem in much of the world. Photo: NICKY LOH / Reuters / NTB
According to the survey, young people in Norway have had a relatively small increase in BMI compared to many other countries. Norwegian girls rank 68th and boys 126th on the highest BMI list.
They have the highest BMI in some Pacific island states. Here, the average BMI of 19-year-olds is on the border between being overweight and obese.
The researchers emphasize that the numbers are limited in some countries. But they believe the study shows how important it is to have good nutrition throughout parenting.
