Robert Pershing Wadlow, born on February 22, 1918, holds the record as the World’s Tallest Man, standing at 8 feet 11 inches (2.72 meters). He weighed 439 pounds (199 kilograms) and also holds the titles for the World’s Largest Hands at 12.75 inches (32.3 centimeters) and the World’s Largest Feet at 18.5 inches (47 centimeters). Wadlow’s ring size was 25, and his shoe size was 37 AA (UK size 36, approximately European size 75), requiring custom-made shoes.
Doctors discovered that Robert’s exceptional size was due to hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which led to abnormally high levels of human growth hormone. He never received treatment to stop his growth.
Dr. Donald Rau, Medical Consultant for 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.”
Robert had a staggering daily food consumption of 8,000 calories and continued to grow taller until his death. Since then, medical technology and treatment have advanced significantly. People with pituitary gigantism, such as Sultan Kösen, the tallest living man as of 2017, can undergo surgery to halt the production of growth hormone.
Robert’s condition made mobility difficult. He used leg braces and a walking stick but never resorted to a wheelchair. Tragically, his legs caused his premature death at the age of just 22. By the age of eight, Wadlow was taller than his father, and by nine, he could carry his father up and down a full flight of stairs effortlessly. Robert attended elementary school in Roxana and then the Milton Schoolhouse in Alton, where a special desk was made for him to sit more comfortably. He was the tallest Boy Scout and a member of Troop 1 in Alton. Robert loved adventure stories for boys and reportedly read around 300 books a year.
