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Dear George W:
You're right! In general, people are growing up to be taller adults than they used to be. How come?
Researchers think the answer lies largely with health and nutrition. We know a lot more now about
what a person needs to be healthy and stay healthy than people did 200 years ago!
For example, we know what kinds of food, vitamins and minerals should be in a healthy diet. We
also know more about how important it is for expectant mothers, infants, children, and adults to be
under a doctor's care. Doctors have more ways to keep people healthy and to recognize and treat
illnesses if people get sick. Additionally, people now understand that things like the bacteria
from raw sewage can make people sick so, in most parts of the world, sanitation and personal
hygiene are much better than they were hundreds of years ago.
All of this means that not only are people growing up to be taller but they are also, in
general, living longer. So, will people ever grow to 10 feet and live 200 years? No.... That's
because human bodies aren't constructed to be 10 feet tall. Imagine, for example, just how long and
skinny your bones would be and easily they would be able to break. And as to living forever -- or
at least 200 years? That's not likely, either.
Scientists believe that many things in the human body work for only so long and then are built
to stop functioning. Sorry.... But, listen, be happy, you guys live longer than just about everyone
in the animal kingdom!
Signed,
Wendell
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