Tall people generally tend to have a slightly shorter lifespan compared to shorter people, though the relationship is complex and influenced by many factors.
- Several studies indicate that taller individuals, especially men over about 6 feet (183 cm) and women over 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm), may have a higher risk of certain diseases and a somewhat reduced lifespan compared to shorter people
. For example, a study of Italian men found that those under 5 feet 3 inches lived about two years longer on average than taller men
- Research on former professional basketball players, who are typically very tall, showed that the tallest players tended to die younger than shorter players, suggesting that very tall stature might be linked to reduced longevity
- Biological mechanisms possibly explaining this include the FOXO3 gene, which is associated with longevity and is more common in shorter individuals, as well as factors like lower cancer incidence and metabolic differences in shorter people
- However, some studies find only very weak correlations or mixed results. For example, a large study in Poland found a negative but weak correlation between height and lifespan, indicating that height alone is not a strong predictor of longevity
- Other factors such as genetics, lifestyle, physical activity, and overall health have a much greater impact on lifespan. For instance, a study found that for men, physical activity was more important than height in reaching age 90, while taller women who maintained a healthy weight were more likely to live longer
In summary, while taller people may have a slightly shorter average lifespan than shorter people, the difference is generally small and influenced by many other health and lifestyle factors. Height alone is not a definitive predictor of how long someone will live
