Why shorter people live longer

Like most things in life, the answer to this question is complicated. But with few reasonable assumptions and approximations, this phenomenon can be explained using simple principles.

So, why do shorter people live longer?

Smaller cross-section area

As we know, we live in a world with uncontrolled high momentum projectiles moving around. From gun and sniper shots, to out of control vehicles and debris, to falling stones and asteroids, they are everywhere.

So, if a person is shorter by a factor of $L$, then they have (typically) a smaller cross-section area by a factor of $L^2$. So, the probability of getting hit by these high momentum projectiles also decreases by a factor of $L^2$. Simple math.

Less stuff means less stuff that can go wrong.

Or, Less skin means less skin cancer.

Again, if a person is shorter by a factor of $L$, then they have less skin by a factor of $L^2$ and less cells by a factor of $L^3$. Now, if the probability of something going wrong with per unit volume (or area) of tissue is assumed to be a constant, then the overall probability of something going wrong goes roughly as $L^3$ (or $L^2$).

If, on top of this, we assume that for a deadly disease, incidence of the disease means significant increase in the risk of mortality, then we can clearly see a correlation.

Less stuff means less stuff to maintain

From situations like famine to degrading body in old age, smaller size, that goes as $L^3$, means less resources required to maintain the body. So, shorter people are more likely to live through a famine or age elegantly.

Conclusion

As an illustration, if a person is 10% shorter, then they have 19% less cross-section area and 27% less volume. So, the risk of getting hit by a sniper decreases by 19% and the risk of developing some weird disease decreases by 27%.

So, the returns of being short increases as the person gets shorter and shorter and mathematically peaks when a person is 100% shorter than the average height.

So, did a friend ever make fun of your shorter height? Do you have a short friend? Share this post with them!