| There was a time when most American children | | | | avoided disease and eaten enough meat and milk |
| were expected to grow taller than their parents. | | | | in their youth to grow taller and reach their |
| Since the early 20th century, children and | | | | genetic height potentials.While overall U.S. height |
| adolescents grew about an inch and a half taller | | | | averages have more or less stabilized, there are |
| every 20 years. But recent height measurements | | | | small pockets of the population where slight |
| suggest that the average height of Americans | | | | increases in height are likely still happening. Studies |
| has reached a plateau.Data collected showed that | | | | dating from the 1930s have demonstrated how a |
| the average height for Americans has stabilized in | | | | person's environment and nutrition can directly |
| the past 50 years to about 5 feet 9 inches for | | | | affect a person's height, size and |
| men and 5 feet 4 inches for women. The reason | | | | dimensions.Overwhelmingly, the children who had |
| is that most Americans now face few nutritional | | | | received adequate supplements in their youth |
| or health-related stresses in their youth. People | | | | grew taller and were even more successful |
| experience the most height increase as infants | | | | throughout life. |
| and then as adolescents. Most Americans have | | | | |