I remember when I was a kid (growing up in San Diego), someone unearthed chest armor worn by a conquistador. I believe it was around the Cabrillo Monument. I remember my Dad telling me it would have fit me rather well. I was about ten at the time. At one time they had a life-sized replica of one of Columbus’ ships, the Pinta, I believe. I remember it being remarkably tiny, and I thought it amazing these men sailed the Atlantic in one. I was told by one of the staff at the time, it was because people were simply not very big back then.
I remember reading that when Americans arrived in Europe at the time of the first war, Europeans were stunned at their height and generally robust physique.
GI’s looked like giants in comparison to the average European. It was a very marked difference. One author said 'the scariest thing in the world for our enemies to see was a 6 ft. + GI, climbing out of a tank, with the full knowledge that there were thousands more just like him on the way'.
It's something to think about when in BOTH wars, Europeans were STILL undersized compared to the average GI and it can be credited to diet.
Even GI’s from ‘impoverished’, rural areas in the US were distinctly well nourished, better developed and had obviously always enjoyed better nutrition, compared to most Europeans.