Short men live longer than their taller counterparts, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Plos One.

In a study of thousands of Japanese-American men, researchers from the University of Hawaii found that shorter men, defined as 5-foot-2 and shorter, are able to regulate insulin better, fight off cancer and live longer. All of those factors are determined by the presence of a "longevity" gene titled FOXO3.

"This study shows for the first time that body size is linked to this gene," lead researcher Bradley Willcox said according to the New York Daily News.

"We knew that in animal models of aging. We did not know that in humans. We have the same or a slightly different version in mice, roundworms, flies, even yeast has a version of this gene, and it's important in longevity across all these species."

Willcox and his team studied the lifestyles of 8,006 Japanese-American men in Hawaii that were born between 1900 and 1919. The men were split into two height groups- men who were 5-foot-2 and shorter and men who were 5-foot-4 and taller. Information on the subjects was provided by the Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program, which started tracking the men in 1965.

Researchers found that 1,200 of the 8,006 men lived past the age of 90 and sometimes past 100, according to the Daily News. Nearly 250 of the men are still alive. 

"The folks that were 5-2 and shorter lived the longest. The taller you got, the shorter you lived," Willcox said according to USA Today affiliate Newser.

People who live in Honolulu, Hawaii have the longest lifespan in the U.S.  

Willcox warns, however, that being short does not automatically mean a longer life span. Factors including diet and lifestyle can influence how long a person lives, "no matter how tall you are."