Competition For Jobs, Partners Sparks Height Craze In China TV Regularly Promotes 'Stretching Machines,' Surgery Techniques Competition for jobs and marriage partners has sparked a national height craze in China that has people lining up to be surgically stretched or to purchase torture rack-like stretching machines, according to a Local 6 News report. A senior executive at one of China's largest job-search Internet sites admits that it's a commonly-held belief that "taller people will have more opportunity for promotion." In recent months, advertisements on Chinese television are regularly promoting "stretching machines," which look like benches reminiscent of the medieval torture rack. Users are supposed to strap themselves in by head and foot and turn a crank to extend the bench beneath them. A voice-over on one of the TV advertisements claims that the "body stretch and exercise machine" can stretch human cartilage and "boost young people's height." Also, a private hospital in Beijing has become famous for its height-extending practice which puts patients out of action for six months or more. If it works, the procedure can extend the length of your bones by more than "15 percent," according to Dr Xia Hetao, who performs the surgery. Xia uses an adaptation of a method originally developed in Russia more than a century ago. Xia breaks his patient's legs, then attaches metal pins to the separated bones, which are held in place by metal frames around the patient's legs. The patient then has to twist a knob daily to drag the ends of broken bone apart gradually, encouraging new bone to grow to bridge the gap as the fracture heals, resulting in longer bones, and a taller person, according to the report. He insists that his procedure has a high rate of success. However, Xia said that there are other operators in China who botch the job. As leg-lengthening becomes more popular, Xia is calling for official regulation of the practice. China's Ministry of Health says it is very concerned about the trend. One of Xia's patients, Wang Junhong, traveled thousands of miles from southern China to get her legs lengthened in Beijing. She said she knows of doctors that offer the surgery near where she lives, but she doesn't trust them to get it right. Competition for work and business success in China can pressure job seekers to take drastic action to increase their height. Job advertisements often prominently list height requirements for potential candidates The average Chinese woman is about 5 feet 2 inches tall and the average man about 5 feet 6 inches, according to the report. STORY LINK
That's pretty sad! Your eventual height tends to have to do with your nutrition as much as it has to do with genetics
I can't imagine the atrophy you would have to overcome after staying in that position for 6 months. Sure, you might be taller, but your muscles would suck.
I figure this will all blow over once more and more Chinese men are able to get their hands on phallic sports cars.
Actually there is a plenty of reports, both abroad and here in the U.S. that said taller men average higher income. That almost makes me want to go work in China where I would be above average (5' 8.5") instead of just average here in the states.
Height. Sigh. Anyone want to be taller? I've got a few extra inches you can have. Somehow I doubt height works as an advantage for women (with exceptions such as the WNBA).
I think it's an advantage up to a certain point. What's that certain point? For men, I'd say 6'4" or 6'5". You are too tall if you are over 6'5" unless playing basketball is your job. For women, I'd say 5'9" or 5'10".
Maybe it's not height that's getting people perks. Anyone ever stop to think that it's just boosted confidence? Develop a good self-image and the world is your oyster.
i guess the study means that taller people have better self images that lead to better jobs. It still means what it means. Image is everything. I hate to have to admit this because of how bad it sounds, but one thing ive learned to do in business is to put beautiful people in customer dealing situations and particularly women in my business because most of my customers are male. No one wants my customers happier then me, and no one knows how to help my customers better then me, but you would be amazed how many people would walk straight past me to have one of the girls help them.