Over the years, the physical development of the human body has seen some interesting changes.
Men, in particular, have experienced significant growth in height and weight. A new study, published in the journal Biology Letters, explores this trend.
Researchers examined data from 69 countries and compared it to the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures improvements in living conditions like better education, income, and access to food.
The study shows that men have grown at a much faster rate than women since 1900, writes Videnskab.
While the HDI increased by 0.2 points, men grew an average of 4 centimeters taller and gained 6.5 kilograms.
On the other hand, women’s average growth was just 1.7 centimeters in height and 2.7 kilograms in weight with the same improvement in living conditions.
Researchers offer a few theories to explain these differences. One suggestion is related to women’s sexual preferences.
A past study suggests that women tend to prefer taller men, which may influence men’s physical development over time.
This could be a result of evolutionary trends and natural selection.
Another possibility is the way both genders have adapted to their diets. Men seem to have embraced a trend of consuming more fat-rich foods.
Meanwhile, women’s bodies require more energy for pregnancy, which means their bodies cannot grow as quickly as men’s.
These factors, combined with natural selection and historical eating patterns, might explain why men have experienced more physical growth in recent decades.
Although the study doesn’t offer a clear reason for these changes, it paints a clear picture. Men have grown significantly over the last century, while women have seen more modest physical changes.
The researchers suggest that lifestyle changes and societal preferences may have played a role in shaping the physical traits we see today.
