World tallest woman
An Indian woman from south Dinajpur district of West Bengal has been declared the world’s tallest woman. Siddiqa Parveen, 28, at 233.6cm (7ft 8in), has received
the title from Guinness World Records.
The new record book that was launched this week in London
does declare her the tallest, but authorities say there is still some work to
be done on her actual height. The record for the shortest living woman already
belongs to an Indian.
Initial medical reports suggested that her height was
more than 8 feet, but further medical examination revealed her exact length. The book, entry says: “The tallest woman living is
Siddiqa Parveen of South Dinajpur, India, who in December 2012 was measured by
Doctor Debasis Saha from Fortis Hospitals to be at least 222.25cm (7 feet 3.5
inches). Dr Saha estimates her standing height to be at least 233.6cm (7ft
8in)”.
The news however brought little cheer to Parveen, who
grapples with serious health issues or her family, who are unable to bear the
medical expenses. “My daughter’s abnormal growth started at the age of ten. Due
to her height she cannot even stand properly and we are so poor that she does
not fit in our house. She regularly needs to eat two kilograms of rice, but we
do not know how to provide for her,” said Parveen’s mother.
Doctors say that Parveen’s abnormal height is due to a
tumour on the pituitary gland in the brain that leads to additional secretion
of hormones.
“She is under treatment here in Calcutta Medical College
at government cost considering that her parents are unable to afford it. Apart
from the hormonal issue, she suffers from severe lack of calcium which has led
to fragile bones and is unable to stand up,” said Dr. Nirmal Majhi, member of
legislative standing committee of health.
India already holds the record for being home to the world's shortest woman. Standing at 24.7 inches, Jyoti Amge has held the Guinness world record title for Shortest Living Woman.