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Could these genetic changes contribute to the Dutch growth spurt of the 70-80s? https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5544085 https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5544085

• vanderZwan 9y ago
  No. First, the generations don't match. Children from 1944 would be 36-46 years old in the 70-80s. Now, you may think: "what about their children, could there be a rebound effect?" And that's the other reason: the whole thing that makes the effects of the Dutch Hunger Winter so interesting to study is that they have such a clear cut-off point. It's like a natural control group. The increase in height was pervasive in Dutch society, the opposite of that. The Dutch growth spurt can almost exclusively be attributed to change in diet. IIRC, humans used to be taller before the age of agriculture, and not-so-coincidentally have a much more diverse diet as well. In the 20th century we have basically been recovering to pre-agriculture levels of nutrition quality. Just look at the plots in that article you linked: every nation has increased its median height, not just the Netherlands.