Height plays a more important role in your life than you may think. If you are of average height, you probably don’t pay much attention to the height of others unless it concerns a potential partner. If you are one of the few people not bothered by height, you likely wonder why others are. Why are some people obsessed with height? Keep reading to find the psychological and biological answer to this question.

Reasons People Care About Height 

Height obsession goes beyond finding a suitable romantic partner. It affects career advances, education, and self-esteem. There are some alarming statistics about tall and short people that make you understand why people are so concerned about it, especially when considering education and career advancements.

1. Height and Dating 

According to a few studies, women prefer to date taller men, and men prefer to date tall women. On average, women prefer men who are 6 inches taller than they are as romantic partners. This makes sense when you think about how women who wear high heels still want their partners to be taller in those situations. In fact, a study found that 58% of women only date men taller than themselves.

In general, people view those who are shorter as less attractive. Of course, people like different things, so not everyone feels the same way about height. For many people, it is important to be attractive to members of their sexual preference. According to many studies, height obsession is mainly a heterosexual issue. With so many height preferences on online dating sites, men and women worldwide are becoming more obsessed with their stature. However, these statistics help you to understand why everyone is concerned about their height.

2. Height and Career Success

Did you know taller people earn more money than those below the average height? This trend is probably the most frightening statistic about height. Among economists, this trend is known as the “height premium.” Taller people earn higher salaries. In fact, there is a linear correlation between height and earnings. For every 1 inch, a person earns about 1.4% to 2.9% more money. 

Taller people are typically more confident than shorter people. Confidence plays a role in career advancement. Additionally, people view taller individuals are leaders or natural authority figures. This perception makes it easier for taller people to get promoted or recognized in the workplace.  

3. Height and Education

Here comes another mind-blowing statistic: taller people are more educated than shorter people. It could also be because taller people show more confidence. Increased confidence makes it easier to choose a higher form of education. Since taller people are more educated, it could also contribute to their career success. Naturally, educated individuals enter higher-paying jobs.

On average, men and women with white-collar jobs are one inch taller than those with blue-collar jobs in the U.S. The same correlation occurs in families. One study found that between two brothers, the taller one was more likely to pursue higher education than the shorter one. 

4. Height and Overall Health

A study in the U.S. involving 165,606 people found that shorter people are less healthy. The study concluded that shorter men were less educated and, therefore, less healthy. Since taller people earn more money, shorter earners have a higher BMI because they cannot afford to take care of their health.

5. Height and Social Factors

Since taller people are more confident, they tend to find social activities easier than those who are short. Shorter people often disappear into the crowd, making them feel invisible and less confident in social situations. If taller people are more social, it makes it easier for them to date. Shorter people are also more paranoid about being made fun of, so they tend to shy away from social activities. 

Why Do People Prefer Taller Partners?

Dating or finding a partner plays a significant role in most people’s lives. For as long as we can remember, people have spent a lot of time and money trying to be more attractive to potential partners. It’s no wonder so many people are obsessed with height. 

Various studies on height and attraction have concluded that people are more attracted to those who are taller, but why? Is there an innate trait that draws humans to taller humans? Surprisingly, there are evolutionary and psychological reasons for these strange laws of attraction. 

Evolutionary Reasons

Evolution encourages reproduction with the most suitable mate. You can see this in the wild among animals. According to how evolution works, women tend to prefer taller men because they appear stronger and more capable of protecting them. This is not always a conscious choice for women, but rather an innate attraction to a more suitable mate. In the past, taller men were better at gathering food and protecting women and children.

Taller men could prefer taller women with wider hips because it makes them more suitable for bearing children. Nowadays, taller men are more educated and healthier, making them suitable mates in the modern world. If you are attracted to taller men and don’t know why, this could explain a lot. Your biological inclinations and instinct to survive are stronger than you think. 

Psychological Reasons

While your body tells you what you should be attracted to, your mind is doing the same thing but in a different way. Shorter women must literally look up to taller men. Your brain could interpret this as looking up to them figuratively. Taller men likely display a sense of power, making them more desirable to women. Taller men are more likely to be elected president since voters see them as more powerful.

The subconscious part of your brain probably perceives taller people as leaders, making you more inclined to respect or admire them. 

Are You Insecure About Being Short? Consider Height Lengthening!

After reading these statistics, it is understandable if you are obsessed with your height. Are you insecure about being shorter? Thankfully, there is a way to permanently increase your height. Here at Height Lengthening, we offer limb lengthening to increase your height. It is a surgical procedure that increases the length of your femur or tibia to make you taller. The results are permanent and could make you up to 6 inches taller. 

Dr. Shahab Mahboubian is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in limb lengthening to increase your height. He can help you overcome your height insecurities with height lengthening surgery. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mahboubian, contact us by calling (818) 322-0126.