Can you imagine living in a world tailored for toddlers? That's probably how people suffering from gigantism feel. Gigantism is a real condition, and although extremely rare, some people do suffer from it and try to live a life in a world where virtually everyone is shorter than them. The condition is caused by an excess of growth hormone (GH) which is sometimes associated with tumor growths on the pituitary gland. People with gigantism usually grow to be 2.1 to 2.7 m (7 to 9 ft) tall.
Sometimes this condition is accompanied by acromegaly later in life (or it can happen on its own), which is a disorder that results from an excess of GH after the growth plates have closed (whereas in gigantism, it's during childhood), which can result in enlarged forehead, jaw, and nose.
In this gallery, we look back at the real-life human "giants" in history and their fascinating stories. Click through!