"People cannot do anything about their stature when they are adults

Professor George Davey Smith

Detailed measurements of standing and sitting heights, and blood profiles were taken from the men, aged between 45 and 59

The research found that a condition called insulin resistance, which leads to diabetes, was more common in the 25% who had the shortest legs, even if their overall height was normal.

Professor George Davey Smith, from the Department of Social Medicine at the University of Bristol, explained it was already known that shorter men have a higher risk of heart disease.

"What we have shown is that this is particular to people with short legs," he said.

"Height and leg length is determined during childhood, and is influenced by nutritional status and by infections in childhood."

Status indicator

As a result, it is thought that leg length serves as an indicator of nutritional status in childhood.

"Nutrition, infections and growth during childhood have a long-lasting impact on factors leading to diabetes and heart disease," said Professor Smith.

However, Professor Smith did reveal that men with short legs can reduce the risks.

"People cannot do anything about their stature when they are adults," he said.

High risk

"But if they are at high risk, they have more to gain from those changes which reduce the risk of heart disease, such as stopping smoking and dietary changes.

"This is especially true of changes that we know reduce the risk of developing diabetes in later life, such as losing weight."

Although this survey focused on men with short legs, further research is being carried out on adult women with short legs.

"We are also doing a series of studies looking at children as they grow," said Professor Smith.

"We are looking at the influences on leg length and factors leading to diabetes and heart disease. "

The research has been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.