Alan Cheslow

Europeans Taller on Average: Bad Health Care, Deficient Welfare Keep Americans Short - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
US citizens were among the tallest in the world up until World War II. But since then, heights have stagnated while Europeans have been getting taller and taller, with the average American now between two and six centimeters shorter. A new study, which involved the statistical analysis of demographic and health data collected between 1959 and 2002, concludes that the spotty US health-care system and weak welfare net could explain why Americans have stopped growing.