Nurturing growth: Unraveling height dynamics in Bangladesh (Op-Ed)

Analyzing the factors affecting women’s height and how it impacts their well-being

External link to Dhaka Tribune news article: Nurturing growth: Unraveling height dynamics in Bangladesh

Authors: Sumaiya Nusrat and Shusmita Khan

Published: March 15, 2024; Updated: March 17, 2024

Let’s talk about something that’s more than just inches and centimetres — height. One’s height is a vital indicator of overall health, nutrition, and even life expectancy. However, it’s crucial to note that height is not a universal metric. Different populations exhibit distinct height patterns. For instance, it’s intriguing to observe that Sudanese men are as tall as Dutch women, and Sudanese women even surpass East Timorese men! Even in prehistoric Europe, there were fluctuations in skeletal height according to Samantha L Cox’s paper published at PLOS One.

Genetics wields significant influence, accounting for 65% to 80% of our height, depending on our racial, ethnic, and regional backgrounds. For example, Australians and Finns can attribute 75% to 80% of their height to genetics, while in China, it’s around 65%. We need to keep in mind that the precise influence of genetics on height can vary among different ethnic groups and regions. Genetic influence on height is likely more nuanced than the specific percentages suggest.

Yet, genes aren’t the sole architects of our stature. Proper nutrition and overall health during formative years play a crucial role in reaching our maximum height potential. Insufficient nutrition in the early stages of life can stunt growth. Additionally, socioeconomic status influences final height. A striking example is the substantial growth seen in South Korea and Japan in recent decades, attributed to enhanced dietary habits, showcasing the profound influence that improved nutrition can have on height, according to a paper from the Asian Development Bank.

Bangladesh has made remarkable strides since its independence in 1971. Positive indicators abound — higher GDP per capita, increased caloric intake, improved sanitation, and impressive vaccination coverage rates for mothers and children — one would anticipate a surge in height, especially for women. An ongoing study in Matlab, Bangladesh, revealed that 71% of daughters now surpass their mothers in height! However, this finding is based on a relatively small, homogeneous population from the south-eastern region. Surprisingly, no other studies examine changes in human height across the nation.

A comprehensive study analyzed five rounds of surveys spanning from 2004 to 2018, focusing on the heights of women born between 1974 and 1998. Factors such as age at first birth, geographic region, and socioeconomic status all exerted influence. 

For instance, women who became mothers at an early age measured on average 150.4cm, while those who delayed childbirth until 17 were slightly taller at 150.8 cm. Women who postponed childbirth until 18 or later maintained a consistent height of 151.2 cm. Additionally, economic status was a contributing factor, as the wealthiest households showed an average increase of 1.2 cm in height. Furthermore, regional differences were observed, with slight height variances noted in the western, central, and eastern regions — with girls from western region being taller than other two regions.

However, South Asian women have traditionally been on the shorter side. Despite improvements in child stunting — which remains high — the stage is set for the next generation of shorter women. It’s been theorized that the carbohydrate dense diet prevalent in South Asia might contribute to this trend. A balanced diet, with a higher percentage of fats and animal-based foods, is typically associated with greater height. Moreover, cultural preference for male children at birth and the innate practice of giving more nutritious food to the male child further impacts women’s health in South Asia.

Height increase can signify improved living conditions, but global progress isn’t uniform. This study sheds light on disparities among religious groups, particularly non-Muslims (mostly Hindus in this context) facing distinct challenges. Factors like dietary choices, including limited animal protein intake, along with lower income levels, and restricted healthcare access among Bangladeshi Hindu communities, contribute to these differences. 

Our analysis highlights the concerning impact of early childbearing on both maternal health and infant health outcomes. Research around the world confirms that shorter stature correlates with lower birth weights and increased risks of mortality for babies. Furthermore, low birth babies may be prone to chronic diseases at later stages of life. These signify preventing early childbearing as a pivotal step towards both maternal and child wellbeing. 

Unfortunately, essential data on the childhood nutritional status, residence, and economic status of the women’s parental households were unavailable, despite their substantial influence on height. Instead, we used the residence and economic status of the women’s in-laws’ households as substitutes. The birth year served as an indicator of childhood nutrition, with the assumption that women born in a particular year likely had better nutritional support compared to those born in the previous year. Nevertheless, it’s worth mentioning that these proxy measures may have introduced some degree of misclassification in our analysis.

Having understood the significance of height at later stages of well-being for both mother and children, it is important for researchers, policy makers, and implementers to have studies around this topic. Furthermore, harmful traditions like early pregnancies must be addressed as they hinder proper physical growth and development. This hidden development index is critical to achieve many Sustainable Development Goals — maternal morbidity/mortality, child nutrition, and optimum development. 

Let us unite in our commitment to fostering not just physical stature but the comprehensive wellbeing of every woman. It is time to create a future where women can stand tall in every aspect of their lives.

Dr. Sumaiya Nusrat is a medical doctor with a passion for data, holding both an MBBS and a Master’s in Applied Statistics. Currently serving as a Project Research Physician at icddr,b, aspiring to become a public health researcher. Shusmita Khan is a Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist with Data for Impact (D4I). This article was produced with the support of the USAID under the terms of the D4I associate award, which is implemented by the Carolina Population Centre at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in partnership with Palladium International, LLC; ICF Macro, Inc; John Snow, Inc; and Tulane University. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. To learn more, please email Shusmita Khan at shusmita@email.unc.edu

Language: English

Region: BANGLADESH