HEIGHT is something that is considered most desirable – especially men.
But they may be rethinking the appeal of being long after scientists discover it may increase the risk of more than 100 diseases.
Being tall has been associated with adverse outcomes in previous work, including cancer and stroke.
The most recent study is the largest of its kind, involving more than 280,000 people.
Nearly all of the participants were male and part of a database called the VA Million Veteran Program.
Researchers analyzed their genes and found that some variants that affect height are also linked to some 127 medical conditions.
The study confirmed previous findings and found a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and varicose veins in leggy individuals.
But for the first time, they showed a higher chance of conditions, including peripheral neuropathy.
The condition, which causes weakness and pain in the extremities and muscle weakness, results from nerve damage.
In the UK, it is estimated that nearly one in 10 people aged 55 or over suffer from peripheral neuropathy.
The researchers linked genetically predicted height to conditions such as erectile dysfunction and urinary retention — both of which are associated with neuropathy.
Conditions such as skin infections and abscesses, chronic leg ulcers, blood clots in the veins and bone infections were also considered more risky.
However, people who were considered tall were generally protected from cardiovascular problems, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
The study defined ‘long’ as more than 175 cm.
While this may be considered tall in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Nigeria, it is the average height of a British male.
Height is not considered a risk factor for diseases such as weight, smoking status or diet.
But dr. Sridharan Raghavan of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, who led the study, said height in itself can be “really a risk factor.”
The researchers did not investigate how tall being could lead to poor health.
But some theories hold that taller people can develop health problems in their limbs because they are further away from the body.
Blood has to travel further through the body and hit the blood vessels.
It may also have to do with the amount of weight they carry on their feet – as tall people were also more prone to toe and foot deformities.
Being tall is due not only to genetic makeup, but also to a person’s diet or environment while growing up.
It’s not clear at this stage whether these health problems are related to the biology of height, or factors associated with it.
The findings are published in the journal PLoS Genetics.