America's Growing Problem

[Swede]

The study, conducted by the University of Munich and Princeton University, found that the United States had the shortest population in the industrialized world, and the reason may have to do with the way people live.

America's first president, George Washington, stood a commanding 6-foot-2. In Washington's day, our country's residents were the tallest in the world.

"It's well known that the Americans held the title for 200 years," said University of Munich professor John Komlos. "Ever since the colonial times, the Americans were the tallest."

Today the Netherlands towers above the rest of the world as the tallest country, with an average height of 6-foot 1, without the wooden shoes. In 1850, Americans were two inches taller than the Dutch.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3293191

[yes2truth]

1. I'd add just one word to your topic line

"America's Growing POPULATION Problem". That, in my view, is a bigger, faster-growing problem.

[Auggie]

4. Or obesity

[LiberalEsto]

2. I thought the Swedes

used to be the tallest, at least for a while.

The U.S. gets a lot of immigrants every year. Many come from countries where people have poor diets. Once the second and third generations of these families come along, they catch up in height.

[OneBlueSky]

3. according to Randy Newman . . .

"Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live

"They got little hands
And little eyes
And they walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

"Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Round here"