Robert Pershing Wadlow, born February 22, 1918, was and still remains the World’s Tallest Man at 8 ft. 11 in. (2.72 m) Wadlow weighed 439 lbs. (199 kg) and also holds the title for the World’s Largest Hands at 12.75 in. (32.3 cm), and the World’s Largest Feet at 18.5 in. (47-cm-long). Wadlow’s ring size was 25 and his shoe size was a 37 AA (UK size 36, roughly a European size 75) men’s that had to be custom-made.
Doctors examined Robert and realised that his exceptional size was caused by hyperplasia of his pituitary gland. This condition causes an abnormally high level of the human growth hormone and Robert was never given any treatment to stop it.
Dr Donald Rau, Medical Consultant, Guinness World Records explained: “Robert Wadlow escaped the attention of surgeons, as they were not confident enough to operate on him. Therefore he might remain the tallest man for a very long time.”
With a staggering peak daily food consumption of 8,000 calories, he actually continued to grow taller right up until his death.
Since then, medical technology and treatment has advanced significantly and people who suffer from pituitary gigantism – such as Sultan Kösen, the tallest man living as of 2017 – are able to have surgery to halt the production of the growth hormone.
Robert’s condition caused him to have difficulty getting around – he had leg braces and a walking stick, but never used a wheelchair.
Sadly, it was Robert’s legs that caused his premature death, aged just 22 years old.
By the age of eight, Wadlow was taller than his father and by nine he was strong enough to carry his father up and down a full flight of stairs with little effort. Robert attended elementary school in Roxana and then at the Milton Schoolhouse in Alton. A special desk was made so he could sit more comfortably. Robert was the tallest Boy Scout and a member of Troop 1 in Alton. He loved boy’s adventure stories and purportedly read approximately 300 books a year.
