Americans are shrinking and what it means

[Opti]

www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/americans-are-shrinking-and-it-started-with-millennials/ar-BB1hIlny?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=80044f89fd9e495987793d80610772ac&ei=26


The data and archaeological records showed that Americans were tallest in the 1800s, when food was plentiful and accessible stateside, especially when compared with other regions (though the data available is really tracking white Americans). Over time, other countries began to catch up, but a real shift occurred in the 1980s, the era of the first millennials and of Reaganomics, when Americans began falling behind Western countries in height and also life expectancy, while child obesity, which can stunt growth spurts, was on the rise.


"It's the beginning of an incredible rise in inequality, a new ideology in the administration that puts more emphasis on individual agency and less on public service," Komlos says of Reaganomics. "And as a consequence, the American health care system becomes the most inefficient in the world." Per the Washington Post, differences sped up quickly during this era. In 1985, 19-year-old men ranked 36th in height and women 38th globally, but by 2019, men fell to 47th and women to 58th (behind China and Lebanon). Inequality in the US, however, was on the rise, and Komlos says we lose more height due to poverty than we gain from extreme wealth.


More evidence on how the US is failing its citizens and not leading globally. Probably no surprise to many although it is a sign of our continued decline in the world. MO. What do you think?

[pulmonarymd]

Did they correct for the ethnicity of our population? The pattern of immigration has changed, and I would suspect that ethnic groups that are taller have been a shrinking part of our population. For example, Dutch and other Northern Europeans are amongst the tallest populations, and Central Americans are shorter. That likely accounts for a large part of the change.

Our health metrics are poor without trying to look at height as a surrogate marker. Life expectancy and disability rates are far better markers. The change in height is a “fun” fact but has less bearing on health than other things we can measure

[billisonboard]

More evidence on how the US is failing its citizens and not leading globally.

Had a coworker once go off about the absolute horror of the United States not leading in the medal count in the Winter Olympics. 

[Opti]

Feb 4, 2024 11:23:24 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

More evidence on how the US is failing its citizens and not leading globally.

Had a coworker once go off about the absolute horror of the United States not leading in the medal count in the Winter Olympics. 

I'm OK with not being in the lead for Olympic medals. I am concerned that this is yet another sign of how bad our programs are for feeding the underfunded. Yes we have people from Central American come here and they do tend to be short. I don't think we should be number one, but our placement in the current rankings makes me feel we are slipping even more. 

One of my friends currently worse off than me told me the US supported phone plan cuts off at $13,000 or individuals. That's very low for NJ. My rent is considerably north of that as is his.

[Tennesseer]

Feb 4, 2024 11:23:24 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

More evidence on how the US is failing its citizens and not leading globally.

Had a coworker once go off about the absolute horror of the United States not leading in the medal count in the Winter Olympics. 

There was an alleged Swede on the old MSN message board who bragged how Sweden was winning more winter Olympic gold medals than the USA. He was a Swede until his real identity was exposed. Disappeared from the message board like a bat out of hell. His moniker was Lars. Lived on the corner of Baxter and Allessandro Streets in L.A. Real streets in L.A.

[Spellbound454]

Dual citizen was it? ......... he was good fun ........ Full of BS but good fun.

His pictures were fake, The guy whose identity he took, had passed away..

[Spellbound454]

Americas actually doing quite well.... better than we are at any rate,

[Tennesseer]

Feb 4, 2024 15:06:36 GMT -5 Spellbound454 said:

Dual citizen was it? ......... he was good fun ........ Full of BS but good fun.

His pictures were fake, The guy whose identity he took, had passed away..

That's who it was! He posted a picture of himself. And then about a year or so later, someone saw the picture on the internet but the picture was of someone else who had died several years earlier.

Dual Citizen supposedly had a gay son who lived in an apartment above his home's garage. DC also had the hots for his Guatemalan housekeeper.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Yay maybe I'll be able to reach stuff without having to climb on shelves like a monkey.

[Tennesseer]

Feb 4, 2024 16:41:59 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Yay maybe I'll be able to reach stuff without having to climb on shelves like a monkey.

My brother had one of these for getting items from the top shelf of cabinets. Not good for plates and stuff but good for canned goods.