Scientists from the University of Hawaii have found that short men tend to live longer than their taller counterparts…
Are you currently three Hobbits short of a trip to Mordor? If so, you shouldn’t feel down about your short stature, as scientists from the US have found that men who stand under five foot two (1.57 meters) actually have a greater chance of surviving well into old age compared to anyone over five foot five.
In the study, which was conducted under the supervision of Dr Bradley Willcox at the University of Hawaii, researchers found that short men are more likely to have the gene FOXO3, which leads to a smaller body size during early development, but a longer life span overall.
The study also found that short men have less risk of getting cancer along with a lower risk of having dangerous blood insulin levels.
"The folks that were five-foot-two and shorter lived the longest,” said Dr Willcox.
“The range was seen all the way across from being five-foot tall to six-foot tall. The taller you got, the shorter you lived."
