Why are samoans so big?

Previous research discovered a gene variant that is extremely rare in most populations but common in Samoans and strongly associated with Body Mass Index (BMI).

The bigger body frame of the Pacific Islanders was once attributed to the history of traveling by canoe, working on the farms, and doing manual labor; however, modern technology has changed these physical activities to more sedentary lifestyles (Ulijaszek, 2003).

Nutrient transmission (change in diet) Is the primary cause of the obesity epidemic in the Pacific Islands, with a high amount of imported foods high in salt and fat content grow.

The average height and weight of American Samoans is unknown. However, it is speculated that the average height ranges from 5’3″ to 6’0″, while the average weight ranges from 130-190 lbs.

Some would also say it was because of the unhealthy diet that lead the populations to be severely obese. A very interesting answer was that The Polynesians had practiced an old form of eugenics, mostly selecting larger and stronger partners for the sake of war and combat.

Māori and Pacific babies were bigger (longer, larger head circumference) than European and Asian babies at birth, and heavier than Asian babies – all well-established facts – but the revelation was that they were also leaner: The extra weight came from fat-free mass (bones, muscles, organs), not fat mass.

The tallest average height for a man is 1.84 m in the Netherlands, the smallest women at just 1.51 m can be found in Guatemala.
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Male.

Polynesians are also known for their unique combination of physical characteristics: tall stature, a large muscular body, a robust skeleton, and a strong tendency toward obesity (Katayama, 1996). Katayama (1996) proposed that these characteristics were the result of hypermorphosis.

The average height is 160.3 (5′2′’) for Japanese men, which has increased over the past 10 years. So yes, 5′11′’ is considered tall in Japan seeing as the average is nowhere near that height. However, there are Japanese people who are that tall, but it’s more rare.

The tallest living person in Mexico is Carlos Alvarado Meléndez. He is 7 foot 3 inches tall, or 2.24 Meters.

In Solomon Islands the average height is around 5 ft 8 inches for men (both indigenous Melanesians and Polynesians). There is evidence though that former generations are quite taller than us and the shorter stature experienced now is believed to be caused by certain medications and malarial infections.

Average Height by State 2022