TITLE: Do elongated convex objects all have long simple geodesics?
QUESTION [10 upvotes]: Let $S$ be a closed convex surface, the boundary of a compact
convex body in $\mathbb{R}^3$.
I am interested in whether there are conditions on its shape
that ensure that it supports a long, simple (non-self-crossing) geodesic.
The length of a geodesic for my purposes is the longest distance
you can travel along the geodesic before returning to your starting
point. Some condition is necessary for the type of result I seek,
for all the geodesics on a sphere have the same length.
Define the elongation $L$ of $S$ as the largest height to diameter
ratio, $h/d$, of a cylinder of height $h$ and diameter $d$ in
which $S$ is tightly inscribed.  By tightly inscribed I mean
that $S$ touches the top, bottom, and sides of the cylinder in
such a manner that neither the height nor diameter can be reduced.
I could use a theorem of this type:

If $S$ has elongation $L \ge k$, then there is a simple
  geodesic on $S$ of length $\ge f(k)$, where $f(k)$ is some
  increasing function of $k$, e.g., $c k$ for a constant $c > 0$.

Perhaps such a theorem cannot exist. 
Or maybe a theorem of this ilk exists, but only with
certain smoothness assumptions? 
There are always at least three simple closed
geodesics on $S$, by a theorem of Lyusternik and Schnirelmann, but perhaps
they might all be short?
For an ellipsoid, the three simple closed geodesics
follow the major and minor axes, and the longest of those
satisfies the type of relationship I seek.
(Elongation could as well be defined in terms of an enclosing ellipsoid rather than cylinder.)
And a cylindrical $S$ supports a long spiral geodesic:
          
Such spirals are exactly the type of geodesic I seek. Thanks for any ideas or pointers!
Edit.
This may not add much, but here is how I view a long geodesic on a cylinder: starting at $a$,
crossing the bottom in a segment $x x'$, crossing the top in $y y'$, and stopping at $b$ just before it is about to cross itself.

REPLY [5 votes]: There is a highly relevant paper of Gene Calabi and J. Cao, where they show that there always exists a geodesic of length at least twice the diameter (in the metric space sense) of your surface. I think this answers your question.