Feel Short? Blame Your Ancestors

FROM Discovery News by Jennifer Viegas

"But despite this variation [within societies], the mean body size varies widely -- by a factor of two -- across societies," he added. "So your average Agta (an indigenous Philippine group) is much smaller than your average Inuit (an indigenous Arctic dwelling group)."

Analysis of average adult heights across the world places Croatian and Dutch individuals towards the top of the height spectrum. Pastoralist groups that have long been involved in nomadic tending of livestock also tend to be tall. These groups include the Dinka, the Maasai, the Turkana and the Tutsi.