Many people can’t wait to grow tall. Some of them are high school students who are among peers who have already enjoyed growth spurts.
Others are adults who are already past their teenage years and are counting on all kinds of height-increasing solutions. For these people, the faster that they grow taller, the quicker that they can say goodbye to a life that’s filled with embarrassment, humiliation, and self-pity.
Steering clear of things that can delay height increase is a must for them to start enjoying a life that’s packed with happiness, success, and confidence.
So, what slows down height growth? Various things can delay the addition of inches to one’s height. They include too much stress, little to no exercise, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition. Other than having an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, being diagnosed with specific health problems and injuring the growth plates may stunt growth, too.
Whether you are still a teenager or already an adult, being short can keep you from enjoying your life to the fullest. This is most especially true if you are constantly surrounded by family members and friends who are blessed with tall stature.
Fortunately, there are certain things that you may do to speed up height increase regardless if it’s brought about by growth spurts or a height-increasing technique that is guaranteed to deliver results.
One of the most important steps that you need to take is to avoid committing anything that is proven to slow down height increase.
Keep on reading if you like to know the things that can stunt growth in teens as well as adults. Below we will talk about some of those that you should stay away from at all costs if you want to become taller in no time.
After checking out the entirety of this article, feel free to share it on social media so that everyone in your circle will also be able to read as well as avoid the things that can keep them from growing tall as quickly as possible.
1. Experiencing Too Much Emotional and Physical Stress
More often than not, stress is associated with adults. There are indeed a lot of things in the lives of adults that can leave them stressed. Some of them are related to work, while others have something to do with dating or marriage.
Adults have a lot of bills to take care of, and this is why much of their stress can also come from financial matters. Being stressed all the time can keep an adult from potentially defying the odds by growing taller, even if he or she is past the puberty stage. Such is because too much stress can cause hormonal imbalance.
Kids and teens, like adults, can also have very stressful lives. However, their sources of stress tend to be different from the sources of stress in grown-ups.
Learning of their parents’ divorce, living through the death of a loved one, moving to a new home, transferring to a different school, being picked by a bully, feeling that they are different from others — these are some of the most common causes of stress in children and teenagers.
According to a study, kids and teens that experience stress tend to grow up as short adults. Experts agree that it can be due to the fact that having a lot of stress can wreak havoc to the normal balance of hormones.
For instance, in boys, it can hamper the proper production of testosterone, which is a hormone that plays an important role in the development of secondary gender characteristics, and height increase is included.
What’s scary about the said study is that it found out that stunted growth is not the only negative effect of too much stress in children and teenagers, but also many other problems. They include heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
It’s important to note that stress can be both emotional and physical. The examples mentioned above are all emotional stress.
Physical stress can also slow down or hinder the process of height increase, and it’s what we are going to talk about next. So don’t stop reading now if you want to enjoy a height increase without delay.
2. Getting Excessive Amounts of Physical Activity
Perhaps time and again, you have heard or read about the fact that engaging in sports can help the young and old alike to grow taller. This works in kids because the growth plates in their bones are stimulated to produce more bone tissue.
On the other hand, sports help adults to increase their height because of a couple of reasons.
First, it helps to stretch or elongate their spine.
Second, it helps to lower the risk of osteoporosis, which is a bone disease that is characterized by the weakening of the bones. Osteoporosis can cause the elderly to become shorter.
A study was once conducted on young children who are already working at such a young age.
The said study discovered that child labor caused a delay in the growth and development of kids — they were thinner and shorter compared to children who weren’t working.
In boys, there was a considerable delay in the development of the genitals, which serves as a sign of hormonal imbalance that prevents proper development of the secondary gender characteristics.
However, just because a child isn’t working doesn’t mean that he is no longer susceptible to getting too much physical activity. Some parents get their little ones into sports at such a young age.
Especially if the goal is to turn their kids into Olympic medalists in the future, it can be more harmful than beneficial. That’s because intensive training can be extremely stressful for the body of kids, and this can stunt their growth.
It’s because of this exactly why a lot of people think that the reason why most gymnasts are short is that they were exposed to extreme physical stress when they were younger.
It makes perfect sense since some of the best gymnasts started out when they were kids.
Weightlifting is another sport that is commonly linked to stunted growth. Just like gymnastics, it’s so intense that it can affect the normal growth and development of children.
Short adults might want to stay away from it, too, because being bulky can compress their spine, plus it can give the illusion that they are shorter.
3. Not Getting Enough Activity Due to a Sedentary Lifestyle
Other than getting too much physical activity, there is another thing that can keep kids and adults alike from growing. It’s none other than not getting enough physical activity.
More often than not, it’s brought about by having a sedentary lifestyle, which is bad not only for the height but also overall health, according to doctors.
Adults have been told time and again to steer clear of having a sedentary lifestyle. That’s because it is considered as a risk factor for so many serious health problems.
Some of them are diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. Just like what was mentioned earlier, osteoporosis can cause the elderly to become shorter.
It’s for the fact that the said disease causes the bones to become weak and brittle. Some of those bones are those that make up the spine.
If your spinal bones shrink due to osteoporosis, it’s possible for you to lose more than an inch in height!
Kids are not spared from the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Especially if paired with poor eating habits, failure to get enough physical activity can lead to childhood obesity, which is just as bad for the vital organs as adult obesity.
Experts in child health also say that a sedentary lifestyle can get in the way of the proper growth and development of kids. Because of this, they may not be able to reach their full growth potential.
It’s a wonderful idea for kids to spend time in the playground just like in the past. Parents should also encourage them to engage in sports to allow them to enjoy their various physical, mental, and interpersonal perks.
However, as discussed before, intensive training can keep them from growing and developing properly, so kids should be spared from it.
4. Injury or Trauma to the Growth Plates of the Long Bones
Earlier, we talked about the detrimental effects of too much physical activity in the growth and development of children. The amount of stress that it can bring can cause hormonal imbalance, which can keep kids from growing properly.
There is one more reason why too much exercise, training, or sports can slow down or prevent height increase, and that is injury or trauma to the growth plates, which are the ones responsible for producing new bone tissue.
The growth plates are capable of producing new bone tissue only for a limited period.
In boys, the growth plates are usually closed by the time that they are 16 years old, which is the age when most boys stop growing taller.
In girls, on the other hand, the growth plates are commonly closed by the time that they are 14 or 15 years old. Needless to say, it’s during such an age when most girls stop growing taller.
Unfortunately, the growth plates are considered as the softest and weakest parts of the long bones, such as the bones in the legs. As a matter of fact, doctors confirm that the growth plates are sometimes even weaker than the tendons and ligaments around them.
It’s for this reason exactly why the growth plates are prone to get fractured due to an injury or trauma. In many cases, a fractured growth plate is capable of healing on its own.
Once it is completely healed, it can go back to producing new bone tissue. However, it’s a different story if the growth plate is crushed or shattered.
A bone plate that is severely injured or damaged may fail to heal completely and do its role. It may also cause the affected limb to become deformed, causing problems with its development, appearance, and functioning.
However, if it happens to a teenager who is almost done growing, the unfavorable effects on his or her growth may be minimal.
5. Hormonal Imbalance Due to Certain Medical Conditions
For the growth plates to do their job of producing new bone tissue, they need to get the go signal of the brain. The brain sends the growth plates the message by means of hormones, which are chemicals produced by various endocrine glands.
It’s due to this exactly why just about any condition that involves hormonal imbalance can stunt growth.
Hypothyroidism is one common example of an endocrine disorder that can keep children from growing at a normal rate. Put simply, it is a problem characterized by the inability of the thyroid gland, which is found in the neck, to produce enough hormones, many of which encourage growth.
Fully grown adults who are suffering from hypothyroidism may experience symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin, constipation, and depression.
There is also what’s known as Growth Hormone Deficiency or GHD that can also cause stunted growth in children. This is a rare disorder that is characterized by the inability of the pituitary gland to produce enough human growth hormone or HGH.
According to health experts, GHD can be present from the time that the child was born, although it can also stem from trauma or infection. Adults may also suffer from GHD, too, but it won’t cause any problem with their stature, especially because they have already attained their full height.
However, adults with GHD may become shorter as a result of complications such as osteoporosis and weakening of the muscles.
It’s important to note that hormonal imbalance can also cause excessive height increase in some cases. For instance, the presence of a tumor in the pituitary gland may cause too much production of HGH.
Just like what the name suggests, HGH is responsible for stimulating the body to grow taller. This is why the production of high amounts of it can cause gigantism in children, which causes their bones and the rest of their bodies to grow rapidly.
Too much HGH can cause acromegaly in adults, and this causes them to have faces, hands, and feet that are larger than usual.
6. Various Diseases and Health-Related Problems
Problems concerning the endocrine system or glands are not the only ones that can slow down height growth, especially in children. There are many other issues regarding the health that may also stunt growth.
Failure to treat or manage the problem may keep the person who is suffering from it to attain growth, especially once he or she reaches puberty. Needless to say, in kids, it’s important to address growth-stunting health problems to attain normal height increase.
One very common disease in children that can keep them from growing at a normal pace is iron-deficiency anemia. Put simply, this is a form of anemia in which the reason for the lack of red blood cells is insufficient iron.
The said mineral is a major role player in the production of red blood cells, which are components of the blood that are tasked with the distribution of oxygen throughout the body.
The presence of iron-deficiency anemia can keep the bones from growing normally, thus stunting growth. The glands that secrete hormones for growth may also be deprived of much-needed oxygen.
Kidney disease is also capable of hampering normal growth, especially in kids. When the kidneys are damaged or not working properly, important minerals are lost by means of the urine.
Some of those minerals that may be flushed out of the body excessively are involved in the growth and development of the bones, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
What’s more, kidney disease can cause toxins and waste products to collect inside the body, and this can cause hormonal imbalance as well as the slowing down of the metabolism.
Certain issues related to the digestive system may also be blamed for the delay of growth in kids. They include those that prevent the proper absorption of nutrients.
Some common examples are celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. Especially in growing children and teenagers, it’s of utmost importance to supply the body with the nutrients that it needs.
This is why aside from having digestive problems that can interfere with proper nutrient absorption, poor eating habits may also stunt growth. We will talk about this matter, later on, so don’t stop reading now!
7. Prolonged Administration of Certain Types of Medications
Everyone knows that most, if not all, medications can cause side effects. They can range anywhere from mild to severe.
In any case, the side effects that medications bring are temporary only, and they usually go away on their own if the intake of medications causing them is stopped.
However, there are also medications that can cause lasting side effects. As a matter of fact, there is one that is commonly said to keep children taking it from growing at a normal rate.
The said medication is what’s commonly given to children who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder or ADHD.
Just like what the name of the disorder says, it’s something that can keep affected kids from paying attention, sitting still, and controlling their behavior.
What’s more, children with ADHD tend to have high energy levels, and that is why they can usually be seen moving around a lot.
Medications prescribed to children with ADHD contain stimulants that help promote increased dopamine levels in the brain. A type of hormone and neurotransmitter, dopamine, is beneficial for managing ADHD because it helps boost focus and concentration.
At the same time, dopamine reduces impulsive behavior and hyperactivity commonly exhibited by kids who are diagnosed with ADHD.
Unfortunately, many studies found out that children who took medications for ADHD for a long period were roughly two inches shorter than those who used different management approaches for ADHD.
However, there are also studies saying that medications for ADHD do not affect the normal growth and development of kids who are taking them. Because of the conflicting findings of different studies, parents of children with ADHD may become confused.
It’s a good idea for them to discuss the matter with the psychiatrists of their kids carefully. For parents who wouldn’t want to risk it, fortunately, there are alternative treatments for ADHD.
Many of them are natural, thus they can attain peace of mind that their little ones will not encounter favorable side effects.
8. Failure to Consume the Right Kinds of Food
It’s no secret that adults should have a healthy diet to prevent unnecessary weight gain as well as all sorts of health problems, ranging from gout, high blood pressure, heart disease to cancer.
Children should also consume the right foods, especially because their growing and developing bodies require all sorts of nutrients.
Stunted growth is common in poor countries. As a matter of fact, millions of kids below five years of age are suffering from chronic malnutrition.
Health experts say that the failure of the affected kids to obtain important nutrients begun from the time that they were still in the womb. That’s because their mothers did not have access to nutritious foods.
If malnutrition persists throughout childhood, it is very much likely for impoverished children to fail to reach their full growth potential. Other than being stunted, they may also develop health problems linked to malnutrition.
It goes without saying that a well-balanced diet is important for kids to have every single time. This allows their bodies to be provided with nutrients necessary for proper growth.
One of them is iodine, which is important for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. When we were talking about hormonal imbalance above, we mentioned that having hypothyroidism can keep kids from growing.
Supplying the bones with calcium and other vital nutrients is essential for the growth plates to produce new bone tissue without any hitch. Parents should discourage their kids from consuming a lot of processed and fast foods as they do not contain the full range of nutrients that the body needs.
What’s more, a lot of these foods contain chemicals and toxins that can cause hormonal imbalance.
Earlier, we mentioned that some digestive disorders might cause stunted growth in children, most especially. These problems that have something to do with the digestive system prevent proper absorption of various nutrients, including those that play important roles in growth and development.
Even if children are provided with healthy foods, the presence of certain digestive issues can keep them from being properly nourished. This is why it’s very important to identify and treat problems with the digestive system to keep stunted growth at bay.
9. Not Getting Enough Good Night’s Sleep Each Time
Perhaps you have already heard or read about the fact that we spend one-third of our lives sleeping. This is a testament to the sheer importance of having sufficient amounts of sleep each night.
Health experts cannot stress enough that sleep is essential not only for physical health but also mental wellness. Not getting enough sleep can cause all kinds of problems. In kids and adults alike, sleep deprivation can slow down height increase.
That’s because it is during sleep when the pituitary gland releases more human growth hormone or HGH. When we were talking about the link between hormonal imbalance and stunted growth, we already mentioned this hormone.
It is a major role player in growth and development in children and teenagers. In adults, on the other hand, HGH is essential for muscle repair and many others.
Needless to say, failure to get a good night’s sleep can keep the body from getting enough HGH. This can slow down the growth and development of kids. One night of not having enough sleep won’t stunt growth.
However, it is a completely different story if children are deprived of much-needed sleep often. Aside from short stature, lack of sleep can also pave the way for various cognitive, mental, and emotional issues.
Some of them include irritability, forgetfulness, lack of focus, and learning difficulties. Mental health experts say that it can also lead to increased stress, anxiety, and depression.
Lack of sleep can have the same effects on the brain and mind of adults. This is why it is recommended for adults to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.
On the other hand, kids 12 years old and below should have 10 to 11 hours of sleep every night, and teens should have 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
However, it’s important to note that having high-quality and uninterrupted sleep is what you should get at night for best results. When in bed, you could sleep on your side or on your back.
You should avoid sleeping on your stomach at all costs. That’s because it can cause your spinal disc to become compressed, and this is bad for your height. We will talk more about your spinal discs next.
10. Having Poor Posture When Sitting and Standing
Adults who are trying different natural height-increasing methods should consider maintaining proper posture. This is true whether they are sitting or standing. It’s because it can help them grow taller as well as feel more confident.
Especially when paired with stretching exercises, proper posture can make your family members and friends comment that you seem taller than usual and that you look better.
Proper posture allows you to gain height because it straightens your spine. This encourages your spinal discs, which are pads that are filled with a gel-like substance, to expand.
Especially if you no longer want to be ridiculed for being short, it is a great idea to allow your spinal discs to expand. This, in turn, causes your spine to become longer.
Having an elongated spine can dramatically change your height. For instance, astronauts can grow up to two inches taller after being in outer space for a few days. They can enjoy their taller stature for a few months of being on earth.
The good news is that you don’t have to be an astronaut just to become a taller person. You can swim regularly to reduce gravity’s effect on your spinal discs.
You may also engage in stretches, exercises, and other activities that help elongate the spine. Some wonderful examples include playing basketball as well as doing yoga and pilates.
Something as simple as having proper posture at all times is enough to make you taller as it helps reduce compression of the spinal discs. To make sure that you have the correct posture, straighten your spine.
Tuck your stomach in and pull your shoulders backward. Your chin should be parallel to the floor. Remember these simple tips, and you’re golden!
In kids and teens, poor posture will not keep them from growing taller. That’s because it doesn’t have any unfavorable impact on the growth plates of their bones.
However, health experts say that slouching, whether sitting or standing, can cause fatigue as well as back pain.
Feeling fatigued and having an achy back can keep children and teenagers from getting enough physical activity, and this can have an impact on their physical growth and development.
It may also pave the way for various health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Just Before You Go
There are many things that can slow down height growth. Some of them apply more to kids and teens, while others apply to adults only. However, there are also those that can hamper the increase in the height of people of all ages.
If you want to be taller to enjoy the various things associated with it, such as good looks, confidence, and success, it’s highly recommended for you to avoid the growth-delaying things mentioned above.
Related Questions
Are there sports that I should avoid if I want to enjoy an increase in height?
Although getting into sports is good for your overall health, some sports can be bad for your height. They include gymnastics, long-distance running, wrestling, weightlifting, and mixed martial arts or MMA.
Is it possible to reverse stunted growth in children?
Unfortunately, health experts say that it is impossible to reverse stunted growth in children. This is why it’s important to treat right away any disease or condition that can interfere with the proper growth and development of kids.
What’s Next?
If you are looking for my story and want to know how I got taller, I recommend checking the my article:
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