World's smallest man

Verne J. Troyer a.k.a Mini-V. (born January 1, 1969) is an American actor and stunt performer. Verne is notable for his height of 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m), the result of dwarfism.

Dwarfism (pronounced dwo[ʀ]fiz'm IPA: /ˈdwɔːˌfɪzɪm/) is a medical term describing a person of short stature, with the most widely accepted definition of a dwarf being a person with an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches (147cm). Dwarfism can be caused by over 200 separate medical conditions, and as such the symptoms of individual dwarfs can vary greatly. People who are affected by dwarfism are often referred to as "little people."

Characteristics of dwarfism vary greatly in individuals. Disproportionate dwarfism is identified by one or more body parts being disproportionately large or small compared to the rest of the body, with growth abnormalities in specific areas being apparent. In cases of proportionate dwarfism the body parts are proportional to each other with a general lack of growth being apparent. Hypotoniais common in dwarfs, but intelligence and life span are usually normal.

The most common cause of dwarfism is achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder responsible for 70% of dwarfism cases. In cases of achondroplasia the limbs are disproportionally short compared to the trunk, with the head being larger than normal and frontal bossing being apparent on the face. Conditions in humans characterized by disproportional body parts are typically caused by one or more genetic disorders in bone or cartilage development. Forms of extreme shortness in humans characterized by proportional body parts usually have a hormonal or nutritional cause such as growth hormone deficiency, once known as "pituitary dwarfism".

There is no universal treatment for dwarfism. Individual abnormalities such as bone growth disorders can sometimes be treated through surgery, and some hormone disorders can be treated through medication, but in most cases it is impossible to treat all of the symptoms of dwarfism. Most of the time lifestyle remedies are needed in order to cope with the effects of dwarfism. In-home devices like specialized furniture is often needed to help victims of dwarfism function normally. Many support groups also exist in order to help sufferers of dwarfism cope with the challenges they face and to help them function independently.

Dwarfism is a highly visible condition that can often carry negative connotations in society. Some believe that people afflicted with dwarfism are intellectually challenged or have personality disorders. Due to their unnatural height, people with dwarfism are often used as spectacles in entertainment or portrayed with derogatory stereotypes. In popular culture dwarfs are often portrayed in roles directly related to their abnormal height. Heightism is a serious problem that can lead to ridicule as a child and discrimination as an an adult for a sufferer of dwarfism.