Reviews the evidence on early-industrial height cycles and shows why the economic transition put downward pressure on the nutritional status of the European and American populations.

Introduces the reader to the importance of studying of the history of human physical stature, and the main findings of the recent decades.

Examines the height of Georgian convicts and concludes that their height declined beginning with the birth cohorts of 1835. The economic transition brought about a decline in their nutritional status.

Introduces the reader to the importance of studying of the history of human physical stature, and the main findings of the recent decades.

Introduces the reader to the importance of studying of the history of human physical stature, and the main findings of the recent decades.