Reviews the evidence on early-industrial height cycles and shows why the economic transition put downward pressure on the nutritional status of the European and American populations.

Examines the height and weight of West Point Cadets in the 19th Century and finds that their height was declining in the Antebellum Period. Confirms earlier findings based on Union Army soldiers. Finds also that the cadets were quite underweight by modern standards.

The discovery of the New World enabled the nutritional status of the European populations to be maintained sufficiently to avoid a major Malthusian catastrophe as in prior centuries.

The Nutritional status of the plains Indians was relatively high because they lived close to a rich supply of proteins: the bison. Same patterns can be observed in other pre- and early-industrial societies.

Reviews the evidence on early-industrial height cycles and shows why the economic transition put downward pressure on the nutritional status of the European and American populations.

Argues that the slaves transported in interregional trade were not selected on the basis of their physical stature.

Examines the height of Georgian convicts and concludes that their height declined beginning with the birth cohorts of 1835. The economic transition brought about a decline in their nutritional status.