Surprising Myths and Facts About Height | 6 Truths Or Lies

Is It A Myth Or The Fact That Height Affects Health and Opportunities?

The unfortunate truth about myths or facts in every part of society is that there is always discrimination on something—your skin color, how you look, and the appearance of your height. These are a few challenging scenarios presented in our society from time immemorial.

How could we ever change the way we look? Our skin color and the natural height endowed are irreversible. It isn’t very reassuring if you belong to a not-so-appealing group when it comes to opportunities because you didn’t meet the standard of persona that the company prefers.

I encountered such an experience myself a few years ago. This employer passed me to the final hiring process, called me after three weeks, and told me that my height was not the standard they were looking for in the position. Scenarios like that are very unethical and degrading.

But do the great opportunities solely belong to the taller individual with every aspect of advancements on their side? What about the shorter group? Are we just going to live a mediocre life? Myths or facts, I think, all started from a wrong perception and judgment that has never been corrected.

Here are the myths or facts that height affects health and opportunities:

Myths or Facts: Taller People Have More Career Opportunities.

The sad truth in our society is that they instill a certain mentality of discrimination. A Journal of Applied Technology study finds that taller individuals can earn more than someone 5 feet 5 inches or less tall. The height prejudice explanation justifies that tall people have more confidence and self-esteem because people view tall people as potential leaders, which is wrong. On the other hand, growing up short will make one have an inferiority complex and perform less.

Myths or Facts: Shorter People Are Prone To Heart Problems.

A study report on nearly 200,000 people has found a 13.5% higher risk with a height of fewer than 2.5 inches than average. According to the CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention), coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death, and one in every 36 seconds dies here in the United States.

Other factors linked to cardiovascular diseases, such as obesity or being overweight, having a sedentary life or being a couch potato, being a heavy drinker, and having an unhealthy diet, need to change our daily lifestyle. The genetic makeup or the history of genes will also come into play. If you are below 5 foot 3 inches, you are less likely to get blood clots than taller women as long as you maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Related article: 7 Steps To Naturally Renew Your Beauty.

Myths or Facts: Tall People Are Prone To Cancer.

According to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention, taller women will more likely to get 19 types of cancer, especially the long-legged type. Taller men are susceptible to prostate cancer. The extra cells in their bodies account for a more significant chance of getting cancer.

Myths or Facts: Short Pregnant Women Are At Risk For Gestational Diabetes.

Women under 5 foot 2 inches tall are more at risk of getting gestational diabetes than taller women. Gestational diabetes is a glucose intolerance that only occurs in pregnant women. Short pregnant women are also susceptible to preterm birth.

Myths or Facts: Tall People Are Prone To Blood Clots.

It’s true. Tall people have a higher risk of blood clots than shorter people. People shorter than 5 foot 3 inches have a 65% lesser chance of developing venous thromboembolism than those over 6 feet tall. The suggested reason is that tall people have more veins in their legs than shorter versions.

There’s Good In It All.

The good news is that there are health benefits to being either short or tall. Short people tend to have a longer life span than taller people. Research shows that short people live 2 or more years longer than tall people.

Tall people have a lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. A person taller than 5 foot 7 inches is 50% less likely to die from dementia than a shorter counterpart.