NY Times: So Big and Healthy Even Grandpa Wouldn’t Even Know You — I was reminded after seeing an exhibit of clothing up until the 1900s. The shoes and gloves looked more like infant wear. Other indications were military enrollment from 1850, when the average for a male was 5′ 7.5″ tall and weighed 146 lbs. and 2000, when the average male was 5′ 9.5″ and weighed 191 pounds.
Also when a person reached 50 in 1900, they could expect to live 21 more years. Now they can expect to live 31 years.