Japan is the most advanced country in applying peptides—derived from collagen hydrolysis—to food. Initially, they were developed as space food for astronauts and nutritional supplements for Olympic athletes. Later, peptides were incorporated into school lunch programs and provided free of charge to kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students. This initiative led to a rapid increase in the average height of Japanese children and a significant decrease in nearsightedness rates.
According to data released by the World Health Organization, in 2006, the average height of 17-year-old youths in Asia was 173.4 cm in Japan (compared to 171.2 cm in Taiwan), making Japan the tallest in Asia.