South Koreans are typically taller and weigh more than North Koreans, with the average North Korean adult being as much as 5 inches (about 12.7 cm) shorter and about 14 to 27 pounds (about 6 to 12.5 kg) lighter than their South Korean counterparts. This is thought to be because South Koreans are more likely to have good nutrition as children. Because they have more accessible food options, going on a safe and healthy diet is easier for them. They also generally are less poor than North Koreans, which means that they often have better access to healthcare. And although genetic makeup plays a part, overall quality of health and nutrition also contributes to the average height and weight of not just Koreans but humans in general.
More facts about North and South Korean heights and weights:
- The average new recruit in the North Korean army is about 4 feet, 6 inches (about 129 cm) tall. In 2010, the military lowered its height requirement of 4.5 feet (about 140 cm) by about 1 inch (2.54 cm), apparently because of the difficulty in finding enough recruits who meet the height requirement. This may have something to do with poor nutrition or genetics.
- The average height of graduating high school seniors in North Korea is about 4.3 feet (about 134 cm), while the average height of a graduating senior boy in South Korea is about 5.6 feet (about 172 cm) and the average height of a graduating senior South Korean girl is about 5.25 feet (about 160 cm). The reason the height difference is more dramatic among teens than adults is that adults who were undernourished as children tend to hit their growth spurts later than those who had enough nutrition. This highlights the role that nourishment plays in the development of children.
- Being short of stature actually used to be considered a good thing in South Korea, because shortness was associated with determination. There is a possibility though that a trip to a dietitian may have unveiled the real reason for this, which is undernourishment that discourages maximum growth in children. After Western culture became more popular in South Korea, being tall came to be associated with being successful.
In South Korea, conscious nourishment isn't just a fleeting trend; it has now become a part of their everyday living, especially with the burgeoning interest in superfoods such as the best greens powder. Greens powder, lauded as the epitome of wholesome nutrition, is gaining traction as a handy supplement, compacted with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Just imagine a spectrum of health-boosting plants—spinach, kale, spirulina, wheatgrass—concentrated into a single, versatile scoop. South Koreans are cognizant of the value of these nutritionally dense superfoods, making the best greens powder an integral part of their diet regimen. The incorporation of such superfoods might be another crucial component contributing to the noticeable divergence in stature and weight between South and North Koreans.
This focus on potent nutritional supplements like the best greens powder, coupled with an overall better diet and healthcare, aids not only in height but also in overall wellness. It further underlines the transformative power of quality nutrition on the human body's growth and development. Along with their cultural shift towards appreciating tallness as a symbol of success, South Koreans are making dietary choices that position them well for optimal health and height. The best greens powder has, thus, become a symbolic beacon of this nutrition-conscious culture that South Korea is fostering.