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Original poster

Do short people tire more easily?

32 replies

dottydodah · 14/05/2025 08:28

I am 5ft 0 ins ,defo feel when walking I feel more tired than my taller friend.I am taking more steps to cover the same amount of ground .Does anyone else notice this? YABU of course it doesnt matter about your height .YANBU Shorter people feel more tired as have to walk more sreps

OP posts:
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Original poster
dottydodah · 16/05/2025 09:09

Good answers here.Interesting .I am 5ft 0 ,sadly not as slim as I could be! Also in views of health Diagnosed with Cancer ! So not all taller people after all

OP posts:
RachTheAlpaca · 14/05/2025 19:40

I'm not sure on this one.
My husband is shorter than me and he walks SO fast I'm literally running to keep up with him!

Hoolahoophop · 14/05/2025 13:05

KimberleyClark · 14/05/2025 10:23

Apparently short people are more likely to have heart disease, but tall people are more likely to get cancer.

Interesting,

My tiny family have all have heart disease and its the leading cause of death, we have a horror of booze and cheese in case this makes things worse. Very little cancer in the family luckily (touching wood)
My tall in-laws eat and drink like a Tudor King and have strong healthy hearts , but suffer back problems and sadly the family had had a lot of cancer to deal with.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 14/05/2025 12:23

I (5'1") take more steps than my husband (5'10") when we're walking together, but I have less weight to propel forwards so I imagine we're using roughly the same amount of energy to get from A to B.

I don't feel like being short contributes to tiring me - I don't consistently get worn out before other people doing the same thing as me anyway.

JasmineAllen · 14/05/2025 12:14

Redpeach · 14/05/2025 10:20

Tall.people die earlier

Taller men yes. Apparently if you're a women over 5ft 9 you're 30% more likely to make it your 90s than a short woman. Thank goodness for me at 5ft 10 😁

CorbyTrouserPress · 14/05/2025 11:44

Expensivecoffee · 14/05/2025 09:39

Im 4`11 cant say i do tire more.

How do you know if you’ve never been tall?

EilishMcCandlish · 14/05/2025 11:42

I have never found this. I am weaker for sure, but I can keep going. Smaller/lighter people burn fewer calories than taller/heavier ones running or walking the same distance.

TheGhostOfPatButcher · 14/05/2025 11:16

I still have to trot now if I'm walking with my DH, I'm short with short legs, he's tall with long legs. I don't need to take up jogging!

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 14/05/2025 11:10

I'm 5.1 and have more energy than most of my taller friends. They also all carry more weight than I do.
When I was a kid I remember literally trotting to keep up with adults though!

TheGhostOfPatButcher · 14/05/2025 11:06

It must be like riding a bike in too high a gear - you've pedalled a mile but only gone 100 metres. 😂

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/05/2025 10:47

Kago2790 · 14/05/2025 08:33

It makes sense. But do short people live longer? Anecdotal but I get the impression they do.

Apparently they do - it's why you only ever see 'little old ladies' 😁

OhGodImBloated · 14/05/2025 10:36

The world is built for average height so I reckon shorter people have to stretch to reach things or walk faster so I can see it could be more tiring. The other end is taller people have to stoop more so get more aches and pains, which time probably means poorer sleep. Using cash machine, self service till etc, all too low if you’re tall. Endless effort to find longer clothing (you can have long trousers made shorter but not short trousers made longer). I agree that older taller people must fall more.

My very short friend has to run to keep up when out walking with taller friends so I could well believe she’s more tired by it.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 14/05/2025 10:29

I think it differs between people. I’m 5’2” and easily out walk all my much taller, younger and bigger colleagues and still have more energy to do to two hours of exercise after work. They are much better than me at sitting still and not fidgeting and paying attention in meetings - I’m a nightmare apparently!

andtheworldrollson · 14/05/2025 10:29

More steps but less weight to be shifting

indeed if you compare women to men, women who tend to be shorter then man also have better endurance suggesting they get less tired as a whole

AwakeNotThruChoice · 14/05/2025 10:26

I’m 5ft 1.5

I Don’t get more tired than my 6ft husband who is also 10 years younger than me.

I have completed solo long distance hikes, carrying all my gear. I can out hike/climb taller people all the time.

So I don’t think there is anything in it!

KimberleyClark · 14/05/2025 10:23

Apparently short people are more likely to have heart disease, but tall people are more likely to get cancer.

Mylegishangingoff · 14/05/2025 10:21

My friend is 5 foot nothing and an ultramarathoner. She is a machine, amazing woman. My 5'6" self could only dream of running a casual 50km on a Sunday afternoon like she does. She's speedy as heck too, she has to slow down when running when me.

Redpeach · 14/05/2025 10:20

Tall.people die earlier

Fizbosshoes · 14/05/2025 10:19

I'm 4'10 , I'm tired because my sleep is shit but I don't struggle on walks, or running.
But I hate a lot of aspects of being much shorter than average!

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 14/05/2025 10:16

I am above average height at 5 foot six but have very short legs. Does this mean I get the worst of both worlds?

Redpeach · 14/05/2025 10:16

Kylie Minogue looks v energetic

Original poster
dottydodah · 14/05/2025 10:14

Interesting! I am pleased I am not the only one to notice this .dizzydizzydizzy good article .lots there to back me up .short legs too!

OP posts:
Snoken · 14/05/2025 10:01

Kago2790 · 14/05/2025 08:33

It makes sense. But do short people live longer? Anecdotal but I get the impression they do.

It seems that way. People who are short and slim live longer than others.

Genevieva · 14/05/2025 09:49

VexedofVirginiaWater · 14/05/2025 09:47

Is that because they haven't as far to fall @Genevieva ?

I don’t know. I think balance issues might be worse in longer bodies as people get old and unsteady. I also think he’s got further to pump his blood up his body and that this might contribute to balance problems.

VexedofVirginiaWater · 14/05/2025 09:47

Is that because they haven't as far to fall @Genevieva ?