SultanOfSwing

You're not, you're actually 2" above the average female height in the US.

I'm bang on average for the UK, but 1" shorter than average out here. Probably more like 0.5", but I'm not so vain that I have to round up my height to make myself feel better

Pulaski

But she might be rather less above average if you exclude the substantial Hispanic and Asian minorities.

SultanOfSwing

If they're resident, surely they count? That being said, I am not sure exactly what effect they have though, my wife is 5'7" and she seems to be above average based on my non-scientific, anecdotal observation.

I wonder what the effect would be on the male average though - it does seem like most people are taller than me, except for most of the Hispanics at work

Pulaski

They "count" on a national average basis, but statistically speaking it is meaningless to average across different groups. If you average sheep and elephants it doesn't really provide any useful information to conclude that elephants have less wool than average.
Which kinda proves my point.

SultanOfSwing

It's not quite the same though, it isn't like they're a different species. If the goal is to produce a bell curve of average heights of people that live in a given place, then ethnicity shouldn't really come into it. You can drill down into 'height by ethnicity' if that's what is required but for 'Average heights in the US', including everyone is perfectly valid.

Again, though, not really. Yes on average Asians and Hispanics are shorter than Africans or Europeans, but there are taller Hispanics than me, and shorter white and black men that I have encountered as well.

Pulaski

If you went to live in China you would suddenly become of above average height, but it would tell us nothing new about you, nor change anything about you, your health, or anything else. Comparing you to the average for white males from the UK (or of white males of NW European ancestry), could tell us all sorts of things about your medical history and future risk of illness and disease.

Such erroneous comparisons to averages have in recent years proved to have done the black US population no favours because they seem to have a greater risk of diabetes and heart disease. So comparing their blood sugar and collesterol to the national avergae appears to have been mistake, leading to wrong prognoses and inadequate medical attention.

SultanOfSwing

Is that not just because average height is, when all's said and done, pretty irrelevant?

Things like that do seem to be a bit more important than height, to be honest. Though often medicine should focus more on the individual than averages anyway, they are after all only a guide.

Jesus, this is reminding me how much I hate statistics

notonuksoil

I'm also 5'7 so statistically does that make me average for females or spouses of males posting on this thread ?

lizzyq

I am also 5'7" and my husband is not yet posting in this thread.

Pulaski

Which was pretty much my point.

Anian

There are different health limits for men and women when it comes to alcohol. For medication, no one seems too bothered. I'm sure that some bigger people take extra non-prescription stuff anyway - I'm small for a man but bigger than the average woman so I am probably closer to the average person but who knows what size person the dosage is meant for.

Mrs Danvers

I don't get what this thread is about?

My Kid is taller than the waitress?

Has your kid done anything special other than that?

Should I post my kids accomplishments or just their height?

Pulaski

That was supposed to be a one off thought, and I (had) intend (ed) to post other ad hoc happenings and events of my daughter, and thought others might be prompted to post about their own families. But in the best tradition of BE the thread developed a life of its own.

Sarah

I went from being 5'5" to 5'8" in the space of a year when I was 14. I still remember me and my brother getting stretch marks on the back of our knees from growing so much. The school nurse told me I probably wouldn't grow any more....I was still growing at 19 and ended up being 5'10"
Being tall is great, until you try and buy clothes and fit into plane seats.

joto

Just heard from DD that GS has come 2nd in his class for almost everything, and he is only 5 1/2, and he is doing really well in his swimming class. Only sad that I can't give him a hug as they live so far away.