The height and weight of men increased twice as fast as women over the past century. This has changed the difference in growth between representatives of different sexes.
Scientists suggest that A similar trend is related to sexual selection. This is evidenced by the results of the study, published In Biology Letters. How tells The Guardian, in the course of their work, scientists used data from the World Health Organization from dozens of countries, information of foreign authorities and British entries.
The purpose of the study is to find out how changes in life and weight are influenced by living conditions. In the analysis of indicators, scientists take into account the human development index (ILR), including data on the expected life expectancy, training time and per capita income. ICR is displayed in numerical terms from zero to one.
During the study, scientists found that with an increase in ICR by 0.2 indicators of a woman (on average), they become 1.7 centimeters higher and 2.7 kilograms heavier. Under the same conditions, the growth of men increased by four centimeters, and weight by 6.5 kilograms. The authors of scientific work believe that with the same improvement in living conditions, the growth and weight of people increase, but men in men are twice as fast as in women.
To make sure that this trend for different countries remains, scientists have tested historical growth records in the UK, where the ILR grew by 0.14 since 1900. They found that over the first half of the century, average female growth increased by 1.9%, from 159 to 162 centimeters, and the growth of men increased by 4%, from 170 to 177 centimeters. Co -author of the study, Professor Lewis Golzi from the University of Rogampon (Great Britain), cites a comparison:
“Approximately every fourth woman born in 1905 was higher than the average man born in 1905. However, this indicator declined to about one of the eight women among those born in 1958.”
Scientists suggest that Sexual preferences of women could increase the tendency to increase the growth and muscles of men. However, greater weight does not always mean a larger muscle volume. According to Golzy, physique is the main indicator of health and vitality. At the same time, during sexual selection, those men who are able to better protect their partners and common descendants are preferred. He says:
“Women can consider the growth of men attractive, because potentially he makes them more formidable. The highest growth also suggests that the men are well formed. That is, they were not affected by the environmental threats, so they reached greater potential.”
Scientists substantiated the conclusions with preliminary research, which showed that Women consider tall men more attractive more often than men – low women.
Michael Wilson, professor of ecology, evolution and behavior from the University of Minnesota (USA), believes that the results of the study confirm the thesis that in nature of the female personality, in particular among people, are “environmentally limited.” This is explained by the fact that pregnancy and feeding need a large amount of energy, especially among mammals. He claims:
“Investments of men in an increase in body size depend on nutrition conditions. Men grow due to more energetically saturated food.”
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