The Stature of Height in Health

Height has its imposing value. Most heroes in “Mills and Boon” books, in whose arms ladies swoon, are tall and have broad shoulders. A good height is therefore something that most of us wish during our growing years, some, quite desperately.

Lionel Messi, the most talented soccer player of present times, who is 5’ 7” had a problem with height. His growth stalled during childhood. One can imagine his anguish when a school going Lionel saw fellow Argentinian kids surpass him in height as he remained stunted.

He was diagnosed to be deficient in growth hormone, a protein secreted by the pituitary gland located beneath our brain, which regulates height. This deficiency can ofcourse be partly corrected if the hormone is replaced from outside, before the growing bones have frozen. Hormone replacement, as is done with insulin for diabetes or thyroxin tablets for thyroid deficiency, is feasible, but growth hormone therapy was exorbitant at that time, and his family could not afford it.

What came to Messi’s help was his extraordinary talent in soccer that caught the notice of Barcelona Football Club officials. He was offered a place in the Barcelona junior team in exchange for treatment with growth hormone. With therapy, he caught up a few inches but still remains short though extra-ordinarily talented.

Several factors go in to deciding how tall we grow. The genes we inherit from our parents play a major role. Nutrition and illness during the growing years are crucial as well. Protein, the building material, if deficient in our diets, stunts growth, as does repeated bouts of illness in school days.

Apart from finding a place in romantic novels and movies, does height however really matter?  Does Messi’s modest height lower his stature as a master soccer player?  Does it matter that Sachin Tendulkar, the master blaster or the legendary Deigo Maradona are only 5’5”.

Perhaps to prove to themselves and to the world, short people do exceedingly well, and leave indelible marks in all walks of life. John Keats, the English poet, Pablo Picasso the famous painter, Ludwig van Beethoven the music composer and Woody Allen the actor-director, were all just above 5’.

Short men have wielded the greatest powers, Alexander, Napolean Bonaparte and Julius Caesar stand tall in history with short heights. Winston Churchill, Nikita Krushchev, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Abdul Kalam were also short but changed history.

The music world has its share of talented short men: Bob Dylan, Bono, Elton John are all on the shorter side of mid 5.

Short people often make up in mental strength and will power what they often lack in height or physique. Bapu, with his meagre height of 5’3” brought down the British Empire in India.

Staure seems to stand taller in the long run than height, and future romantic novels could do well with short passionate heroes than the out-dated tall ones!

As published in HT City( Hindustan Times) dated 4 September, 2011.