It is clear that both genetics and environmental factors contribute to the average height in Scandinavia. Genes associated with tall stature are more common in the populations of this region, and these genetic factors are complemented by high-quality nutrition and strong public health policies.
Experts say natural selection, combined with a good animal protein diet, makes these Nordic locals taller than their counterparts elsewhere in the world. The Norwegians, like some of the other tallest people in the world have some great genetic backgrounds.
In 2019, the average Norwegian was recorded as being 172.65cm tall, with the average Norwegian man standing at 179.74cm and the average Norwegian woman standing at 165.56cm. While this is taller than the average Brit or American in 2019, it's not unreasonably tall.
Swedes were the tallest up to 120 years ago, and today the Dutch are even taller.
The Scandi diet is big on reducing starchy carbs and replacing those calories with heaping servings of healthy proteins, such as locally-sourced, cold-water fish, and organic vegetables. Just as importantly, Scandinavians believe it's not just what you eat that counts, it's how you prepare it that matters too.
The Swedish women are said to be the most beautiful on the globe, according to Traveller's Break down. However , a few women may prefer a different European region, such as Finland or Norway.
The Nordic Diet: Fish, Veggies, Grains, Fermented Foods and Wine. “The Nordic diet is rooted in tradition back to the Vikings and is comprised of natural fresh foods consumed by residents of Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland,” explains Dr. Luiza Petre, a cardiologist and nutrition and weight loss expert.
Dutch people are the tallest people in the world. They have an average height of 175.62 cm (5 feet 7.96 inches). The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander is 183 cm tall and Queen Maxim is 178 cm tall.
Well, height can generally be attributed about 60-80% to genetics and 20-40% environment, in which the most important factor is nutrition. Protein levels in childhood are particularly important. Diet is probably a big factor in why the Vikings were so tall.
The average height of Vikings as found by researchers and scholars, varied depending on a number of factors, including their age and gender. Typically, the average male Viking would usually be between 5 foot 7 and 5 foot 9, while the average female would be between 5 foot 1 and 5 foot 3.
The average height of an Australian woman is 161cm and 175cm for a man. This is more than double the size of a small Hobbit, which, according to J.R.R. Tolkien, range between 2-4 feet tall (61-122cm).
In Norway, the average height is 172.65cm (5 feet 7.97 inches) tall. The average height of Norwegian men is 179.74cm (just over five feet ten inches) tall, while Norwegian women are, on average, 165.56cm (just over five feet five inches) tall.
In a paper published in Nature, the researchers show that northern Europeans seem to have a stronger genetic link to a particularly tall nomadic population from the Eurasian steppe who came to Europe around 4,500 years ago. Because of these genes, northern Europeans are still tall compared to others on the continent.
A small percentage of Scandinavian DNA can easily be explained by distant ancestors who settled in foreign lands. If your Scandinavian ethnicity is more than 20%, though, you probably have strong and fairly recent ties to the region. If you haven't found them yet, keep looking.
Typical Scandinavian looks come from a background in Viking history, as Viking tribes originally populated much of the region. Though it's been many centuries since the Viking age, many modern-day humans will still have Viking DNA. Just remember, this isn't exclusive to the Scandinavians, but it is quite common.
The chances are Vikings were a lot leaner than many people today, thanks to their protein-rich diet, and their commitment to hard labor. However, it's likely that the comparative 'largeness' of Vikings was down to their muscular bodies and strength, rather than simply being "fat".
Today, archaeological findings and studies indicate the Vikings were definitely fearsome people, similar to the groups we see depicted in pop culture. They were brimming not just with physical strength, but resilience too.
“The Vikings had a lot more genes from southern and eastern Europe than we anticipated,” said Willerslev. “They frequently had children with people from other parts of the world. In fact, they also tended to be dark-haired rather than blond, which is otherwise considered an established Viking trait.”
Latvia is home to the tallest women in the world, figures show. Females born in 1996 in the Baltic state are, on average, 169.80cm — or around 5ft 7in. UK women, for comparison, measure 164.4cm, roughly 5ft 5in. This puts Britain 38th in the international league table.
Scientists attribute this to a diet that is rich in milk and meat. The Dutch have grown so quickly in a short period of time that most of the growth is attributed to their changing environment. They are one of the world's largest producers and consumers of cheese and milk.
Many different dairy products are consumed in large quantities in Scandinavia. These includes not only milk, but also buttermilk, sour cream, and many different types of cheese. Each country or region of Scandinavia produces its own unique types of cheese. In many areas cheese is eaten at nearly every meal.
“In Scandinavia, there's a strong 'less is more' mindset and as a result people simply accumulate less stuff,” says Brantmark. “This purposeful way of furnishing a home means you only collect things you use and truly love, and your home is cleaner and less cluttered as a result.”
The unique genetic inheritance of most Scandinavians: The earliest Scandinavians were dark-skinned hunter-gatherers. By contrast, the ancestors of most Europeans were light-skinned farmers. This genetic difference explains why ethnic Scandinavian skin does not burn as much as other European people's [2].