Why Japan's average height stopped growing while Korea, China surged
Japan's average height has barely changed since the 1990s, falling behind Korea and China. Researchers and media reports point to a possible combination of factors, including nutrition, maternal nutritional status and a lack of sleep. In a report by Japanese financial daily The Nikkei on Saturday, it cited data published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2020 by the NCD Risk Factor…
For decades, Japan's average height has remained remarkably consistent, trailing behind that of its neighbors Korea and China. Experts and news outlets have speculated on a likely mix of elements, such as diet, maternal nutrition, and insufficient sleep. The Nikkei, a prominent Japanese financial publication, reported on Saturday that data from a 2020 medical journal article in The Lancet, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), revealed that China and Korea experienced the most significant height increases among 5- to 19-year-olds over the past 35 years. However, Japan's average height remained stagnant during this period.
According to the data, the estimated average height of a 19-year-old Japanese male in 2019 was 172.1 centimeters, while females stood at 158.5 centimeters. This places Japanese males about 3 to 5 centimeters shorter than their Korean and Chinese counterparts. Korean males averaged 175.5 centimeters, with females at 163.2 centimeters, and Chinese males at 175.7 centimeters, with females measuring 163.5 centimeters. Thirty-five years ago, Japan led the trio in height, but the trend has since reversed.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Why Japan's average height stopped growing while Korea, China surged koreatimes.co.kr
