Size is an important component of life history analysis, as it is both a determinant and
an outcome of life history decisions. Here, we present an investigation of the
relationships between two components of size (height and weight) and life history
outcomes for men in a rural Gambian population. This population suffered seasonal
food shortages and high disease loads, and lacked a
ccess to medical care or
contraception. We find that there is no relationship between height and mortality
among adult men. Tall men also do not have more children than shorter men, though
they do contract slightly more marriages than shorter men. Tall men, therefore, do not
seem to have higher reproductive success in this Ga
mbian population. Instead, weight
(measured by BMI) appears to be a better predictor
of life history outcomes, and
ultimately reproductive success, in this population
. Heavier men have lower mortality
rates, contract more marriages and have higher fertility than thinner men.