Russian Army draftees at their physical examination (file photo) (epa)
May 23, 2007 -- A senior health expert says the average Russian is getting shorter.
Aleksandr Baranov, a senior specialist with the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, says the average Russian is 1.5 centimeters shorter today than a decade ago.
At a May 22 press conference in Moscow, Baranov also said Russian teenagers are becoming weaker.
He said boys have 18 percent less muscle mass than 10 years ago, while girls have 21 percent less muscle mass.
(Interfax, ITAR.TASS, themoscowtimes.com)
RFE/RL Russia Report
RFE/RL Russia Report