AUXOLOGY
Noun. L19.
[from Greek auxein increase + -OLOGY]
The study of growth and development; spec. in MEDICINE, the study of physical growth and development in humans on the basis of measurements such as height, weight, and rate of growth.
Amateur auxology is a growing field (I know - I apologise profusely). As someone that is very tall, I'm regularly asked questions about my height. You're very tall, aren't you? How tall are you exactly? Have you always been tall? Were you the tallest in your school? What's the weather like up there? Etc, etc. Oh it never gets tiresome at all.
It's bizarre that most feel free to comment at length on a tall person's height, but the inverse is generally not acceptable. Most would never say to a short person: My word, you're short! How short are you exactly? Do you mind if I sit down while we talk because I'm tall and you're short and it's giving me a bad back? Etc etc.
Why is this? It's not because all tall people are fine with being tall and all short people aren't; many tall people, particularly if they have a shy disposition, can be very self-conscious about their height. It could be a cultural prejudice, the notion that being tall is somehow better than being short, something desirable, and therefore it's perfectly acceptable to comment on it.
Whatever the reasons (and if you have any theories, please do share them in the comments section), auxology itself is rather interesting, even if constantly answering inane questions about your own height is not. Did you know, for example, that:
- Shorter people live longer (eek!)
- Tall people are more at risk from various cancers
- Tall people earn more
- The tallest man alive is Sultan Kosen from Turkey, standing at a neck-bendingly grand 8ft 3in (2.51m)
- The fastest rate of growth occurs in the first year of life
- If you like tall people, the Netherlands is the country to be in, with the tallest average height
- If short is what does it for you, then consider India, Bolivia, Indonesia and the Phillipines
- Your height changes all day long - you're at your tallest when you first get up in the morning
Do you have any other interesting facts or stories about human growth, development and measurement? If so, do tell!
PS Added on 01/03/13:
The assertion above that "tall people earn more" has drawn comment (see the comments section) as there also seems to be research that indicates women slightly below average height earn more. Thanks to Bibi for passing on that information. Bibi has also written a very entertaining blog post on the subject entitled "Why Do Tall Women Love Little Men? & Other Questions" which is well worth a read.
PS Added on 01/03/13:
For fellow tall people, there seems to an interesting book by the author Arianne Cohen, "The Tall Book: A Celebration From Life On High." I haven't read it, but it's got good reviews on Amazon and has just made my wish-list!
The assertion above that "tall people earn more" has drawn comment (see the comments section) as there also seems to be research that indicates women slightly below average height earn more. Thanks to Bibi for passing on that information. Bibi has also written a very entertaining blog post on the subject entitled "Why Do Tall Women Love Little Men? & Other Questions" which is well worth a read.