Men have gained weight and height twice as fast as women in past century, study finds

Stature and physique are prime indicators of health and vitality, while sexual selection also favours men who are better able to protect and defend their partners and offspring against others, researchers say.

Men around the world have gained height and weight twice as fast as women over the past century, a new study has found.

Prof Lewis Halsey at the University of Roehampton and his colleagues used data from the World Health Organization (WHO), overseas authorities and UK records to see how height and weight have changed with living conditions. The latter was measured by the human development index (HDI), a score based on life expectancy, time in education and per capita income, which ranges from zero to one.