Typically, the Chinese haven't been the tallest people in the world, however, that hasn't stopped some of them from going out of their way to change that. According to The New York Times, height has become more than just something that makes a man attractive in China — a person's height in China can actually label them undatable, and many shorter men and women never marry. To make matters worse, there are actual height requirements for college admission and even certain job positions. This means that shorter men aren't only less attractive due to their appearance, but also because they have fewer education and career opportunities.
The NYT reported how some people go as far as having a painful procedure done where the shin bones are cut in half and the legs are put into a brace which separates the bones approximately one millimeter per day. Over the course of six months, a person will be able to add a few inches, however they can't walk that entire time and are likely to never be able to run again. Even though the procedure has improved over the years, according to The China Post, the surgery's $11,000 price tag might steer some men toward a simpler solution such as shoe lifts and heels.
