The tallest man living is Sultan Kösen
(Turkey, b.10 December 1982) who
measured 251 cm (8 ft 3 in) in Ankara,
Turkey, on 08 February 2011.
The part-time farmer was the first man
over 8 ft (2.43 m) to be measured by
Guinness World Records in over 20 years.
Indeed, GWR only knows of 10 confirmed
or reliable cases in history of humans
reaching 8 ft or more.
Sultan first became the world's tallest
living man in 2009, when he measured
246.5 cm (8 ft 1 in) in height.
He took the title from Xi Shun (China, b.
1951), who measured 2.361 m (7 ft 8.95
in) in height when measured in 2005.
Sultan also holds the record for largest
hands of a living person, each one
measuring 28.5 cm (11.22 in) from the
wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
He previously held the record for largest
feet on a living person, with his left foot
measuring 36.5 cm (1 ft 2 in) and right
foot measuring 35.5 cm (1 ft 1.98 in).
Speaking at the time of his entry into the
Guinness World Records family he said: 'I
never imagined I would be in the book, I
dreamed about it, but it was still a huge
surprise'.
Sultan's growth and massive height caused
by a condition known as "pituitary
gigantism", which is the result of an over-
production of growth hormone. Growth
hormone is released from the pituitary
gland in the brain; if the gland is damaged
by, say, a tumour, it can release too much
(or too little) hormone. The effects of
over-production includes large hands, a
thickening of the bones, and painful joints.
Sultan didn't start his incredible growth
spurt until he was 10 years old. But he
finally appears to have stopped growing.
Revolutionary gamma-knife surgery on the
tumour affecting his pituitary gland,
provided by the University of Virginia,
USA, in August 2010, has finally halted his
production of growth hormone.
Sultan is one of five siblings, with three
brothers and one sister. The rest of his
family, including his mum and dad, are all
'normal' sized.
Because of his extreme height he was
never able to finish school but works
occasionally as a farmer to support his
family.
He describes one of the advantages of
being tall as being able to help out his
mum out with jobs such as changing a
broken light bulb and hanging curtains.
Disadvantages to his height he lists include
not being able to find clothes or shoes that
fit or finding it extremely hard to fit into a
regular size car.
Like every young man in their twenties,
Sultan enjoys listening to music, playing
computer games and watching movies.
What are the giant's dreams for the
future? " I want what everyone else wants, "
says Sultan. "A wife, a family, a nice
home. I'd also like the chance to find some
decent clothes that fit! I've already had a
suit made for me, and at least one dream
has come true: I now own a pair of jeans
made specially for me! "

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/tallest-man-living