Understanding 5 Foot 8 Inches in Centimeters and Average Height

Understanding 5 Foot 8 Inches in Centimeters

Knowing your height measurements in both imperial and metric units can be useful in daily life. For example, when ordering clothes online or adjusting furniture to fit your space. Converting 5 foot 8 inches to centimeters is straightforward once you know the basic calculations.

The Imperial Measurement: Feet and Inches

The imperial system of measurement originated in the British Empire and is still used in countries like the United States today. This system relies on units like feet and inches to indicate length or height. Specifically:

• 1 foot = 12 inches
• 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

So an imperial height measurement, like 5 feet 8 inches, simply means 5 units of 12 inches plus 8 additional inches. Easy enough! But what is that in the metric system?

Converting to the Metric System: Centimeters

The metric system is used nearly everywhere in the world except the U.S. and is based on units like meters and centimeters for length and height. To convert feet and inches to centimeters:

1. Multiply the feet by 12 to get the number of inches
2. Add the additional inches
3. Multiply this total inch figure by 2.54

So for a 5 foot 8 inch height:

1. 5 feet x 12 inches per foot = 60 inches
2. 60 inches + 8 additional inches = 68 inches
3. 68 inches x 2.54 cm per inch = 172.72 cm

Quick Conversion Trick

To make things even easier, you can ballpark the cm conversion quickly in your head. Since 2.54 cm is about 1 inch, then:

• 5 feet is approximately 150 cm
• Each additional inch adds about 2.5 cm

So adding 8 more inches would be approximately 20 cm. This means 5'8" is roughly 150 cm + 20 cm = 170 cm. Not dead accurate but close enough!

Average Height vs Your Own

So we've established that 5 foot 8 inches is equal to about 172 or 173 cm. How does that compare to the average adult heights globally and in local countries?

Global Average Height for Adults

According to the largest data studies available, the worldwide average human height is:

• Male: 171 cm (5 foot 7 inches)
• Female: 159 cm (5 foot 3 inches)

As you can see, 5 foot 8 inches is a hair taller than the average for all adult men globally. But averages differ across ethnic backgrounds and home countries.

Country Height Averages for Adults

Here's how 5 foot 8 inches stacks up to average male heights in select nations:

• Netherlands: 5'11" (tallest nation average)
• USA: 5'9"
• UK: 5'9"
• China: 5'6"
• Indonesia: 5'2" (shortest nation average)

So while 5'8" is an inch under the North American average, it exceeds averages across most other parts of the world. But your specific ethnic background matters too.

Height Based on Your Ethnicity

Beyond country averages, your genetics also influence your height potential. Those of Dutch ancestry often grow tallest. While Southeast Asians skew shorter. Average male heights by ethnicity run:

• Dutch: 6'1"
• German: 5'10"
• Hispanic American: 5'7"
• African American: 5'9"
• Chinese: 5'6"
• Vietnamese: 5'5"

So while 5'8" falls short of loftier Dutch genes, it exceeds height potential for many others. But diet, health, and other factors enable reaching your personal best height regardless of ethnicity.

What Impacts Your Height Potential?

Human height is largely determined by genetics, DNA, and familial factors. However, environmental influences can also affect how tall you ultimately grow.

The Genetic Component

Studies of twins raised apart show that 60-80% of height variation correlates to hereditary factors. If your parents are shorter, you likely inherit a lower height ceiling no matter your childhood environment.

But DNA isn't necessarily destiny for height. Exceptionally tall ancestors suggest greater potential. Yet meeting it still depends on healthy childhood development.

The Importance of Childhood Factors

Though genetics set the bar for height potential, realizing it depends on childhood health and nutrition during critical growth periods.

Children benefit from eating nutritious whole foods throughout youth. Especially getting sufficient:

• Protein
• Calcium
• Vitamin D
• Zinc

Deficiencies in childhood nutrition can impair growth plate development and limit adult height capacity. Childhood illnesses can also stunt height if severe.

But barring severe malnutrition or childhood disease, genetics typically play the longest role in determining height for most well-fed populations.

Height Outlook Based on Your Current Stature

While environmental factors can influence height during youth, how tall you grow by adulthood mainly depends on family history and genes.

When Does Height Stop Increasing?

Though the tallest heights occur between ages 16-18 for women and 18-20 for men, growth plates don't fully fuse until about age 25. Meaning many men grow taller past age 18, albeit slowly.

If your growth felt on track through adolescence, you likely reached most of your height potential by 18-20 years old. But don't fret if you sprouted a bit more in college.

Predicting Adult Height Potential

Doctors can predict height within 2 inches (5 cm) in 85% of kids using simple formulas factoring in:

• Parental heights
• Current child height
• Gender

Online height predictor calculators provide rough estimates. But genetic testing from services like 23andMe now also forecast height. Though DNA tests remain less accurate than doctors' estimates.

Can You Still Grow Taller After Puberty?

While the most rapid growth occurs during puberty, slight height boosts happen into the mid-20s. Many men gain another 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (1-2 cm) between 18-25.

Some pursue fringe treatments like growth hormone therapy, limb lengthening, or back stretching regimens after puberty. But gains prove limited, costs exorbitant, and severe complications common.

Once growth plates fuse by the mid-20s, height remains fixed barring unlikely new therapies.

Embracing Your Height Judgment-Free

Reaching one’s height potential depends on luck of the genetic draw plus adequate childhood nutrition. While slightly boosting post-adolescent height lacks safe options.

Rather than pursuing gimmicky extra height schemes, focus on health habits enabling you to stand tall at your preset stature. Confidently embracing your height and innate strengths serves you better than fretting a few cm.

Judge not yourself nor others by sheer height - for character, wisdom and kindness tower over size.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.