Doctors’ Answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” – Height
These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as
recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is
always advised to consult their own physician.
Height [posted 1/11/99]
Question: I am short for 21 year old male, 5 feet 3 inches tall, and was wondering
if there is anything that I can take or do to increase my height? I heard about a growth
hormone and was wondering if that is a recommended option?
Answer: Human growth hormone only works if your growth plates are open. For men,
this starts about 21 and finished at 25 or so with a lot of variability. Check with an
endocrinologist, but may be too late.
Children’s Growth [posted 1/7/99]
Question: Both my 4 and 6 year olds are quite small. (4 year old – 40 1/4 inches, 6
year old – 43 inches). I am 4 ft 7 in (I was in a blind study on hormone treatment with no
results, but I don’t know if I got the real thing). My husband is 5 ft 4 in, as is most of
his siblings. The six year old was evaluated at age four and his bone growth was within
normal parameters. Is there really nothing that can be done to encourage growth?
Answer: Human growth hormone. You’ll need to find a physician who will give it.
Usually a pediatric endocrinologist, but check prior to seeing them so you don’t waste
your time. Some have very distinct ideas about the use of this drug.
Height Growth [posted 7/30/98]
Question: I understand that height is highly dependent on genetics. I was curious
if it was also effected by other things. For example, how much you sleep, or some foods
that you eat.
Answer: Growth hormone is secreted during deep sleep. So, interruption of sleep
can theoretically keep a child from reaching maximal height. Good nutrition, etc., and
other factors will allow an individual to reach their maximal height. However, the maximal
height seems to be genetically predetermined. Administration of Human Growth Hormone will
allow further growth if the growth plates of the long bones are not fused (around 16 for
women and 22 for men).
Height [posted 7/30/98]
Question: What is the difference between a midget, a pygmy, and a dwarf?
Answer: Dwarfism is usually a genetic condition related to one of the
chondrodystrophies such as achondroplastic dwarfism. This category included individuals
with normal body proportions, but with the characteristic ocular or palate changes. There
are about 30 different types of congenital dwarfism. A pygmy is an anthropological term
referring to a race in Southern Africa, all of whom are of small stature. It is
occasionally used to indicate small size, but the accurate use is only in relation to one
particular race of individuals. A midget is a loose term referring to an individual
-usually in the lower 10% of height for age and not reaching further height. This
individuals can be treated with growth hormone if caught in time.
Growth – Height
Question: I’m 19 years old and 57. Can I still grow taller, and how?
Answer: If you are a female it’s not likely. If you are a male, yes, until
you are about 25-26 years old. Growth hormone might be helpful, but should be monitored
very closely.
Growth – Height
Question: How tall is an average girl suppose to be?
Answer: It depends on her age and ethnic background. The average of all american
women has increased over the last 30 years from 52 to currently
54(all ages) each decade has a different figure that is higher than the
previous decade.
Adult growth
Question: An acquaintance (female, age 35) has grown 1.5 inches in the past twelve
months. This is her first “growth spurt” since she was 14 years old. Isn’t this
very unusual? Why would she start growing taller now, as an adult?
Answer: Adults usually stop growing due to fusion of their growth plates to the
associated bones. This usually occurs around menarche for girls and about 25 for boys.
Growth after this point is very rare, although it could demonstrate excess growth hormone,
which is a medical condition that should be investigated.
Height
Question: I would like to know whether there are any drugs or vitamins on the
market that can make one to grow taller.
Answer: Human growth hormone will produce this effect. It is administered to
children who are in the lower 10% or so of the growth curves. It is expensive, but has
few, if any side effects since it is manufactured genetically. Prior to genetic
production, there was a risk of viral transmission of several diseases. It is expensive
and most physicians will not administer it if you are not decidedly short. It will not
have an effect if your growth plates are closed (about early 20s for men and 16 or so for
women).
Height – Midgets
Question: I was wondering how short someone must be to technically be classified as
a midget, as opposed to just a really short person. I know that a dwarf has a genetic
abnormality, but I think a midget is just a really short person. What height is it?
Answer: Midget is not a medical term. Consequently, there is no definition
medically if a midget. Patients who are below 90 or 95% of average body height are usually
given growth hormone.
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