What Can I Do About My Below Average Height? Any Solutions? Please Help Me!

Hey guys. I get a lot of complaints from people that they’re too short or they’re not tall enough. Some people get insults due to their shortness, especially teenagers.

Well, you have to understand quite well that a person’s height is mainly determined by the genetic make-up. If your parents are tall, you should expect to be tall (except in rare cases) and vice versa. So, if you’re not getting the height you desire, have you checked your parents, or even your grandparents? If they are the short type, then don’t really expect much height.

Meanwhile, there are many other factors that determine one’s height such as nutrition, medical conditions, poor exercising habit.

One is expected to stop growing once puberty is over. Between ages 1 to the start of puberty, you grow little by little, about 2 inches per year, but once you get to puberty, you can grow up to 4 inches per year. So, once puberty stage is over, growing stops. Most times for males, they develop fully at age 19 and growth stops at that age. Little or nothing can be done to add height, while for females, at age 21 you should expect height to stop adding as the bones get to ossify at these ages. So, it is expected that as an adult, you do not grow any taller.

Gigantism is a childhood condition in which the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone thereby causing the child to grow very tall, taller than normal. Early detection and treatment will be of great help.

Dwarfism, which is the opposite of gigantism is a genetic or medical condition in which one is shorter than the average height.

CRETINISM, or better called Congenital Hypothyroidism is a condition in newborns in which thyroid hormone production is very low or insufficient and it can lead to physical and neurological deformities and STUNTED GROWTH.

However, as an adolescent, there are some things you can do to maximize your growth potential and you can even do them as an adult.

1) GOOD NUTRITION – BALANCED DIET

You see, good nutrition is so important and it’s importance cannot be overemphasized. Your diet should really contain a lot of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

To learn more on healthy diet >>> https://lekis.fitness.blog/2020/11/09/healthy-diet/

Also take in a lot of calcium, vitamin D also. They will do your body a lot of good.

Also, generally avoid taking excess sugary foods. If possible, avoid it totally, donuts, soda and all.

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) or Protein Energy Undernutrition (PEU). This is a range of conditions that arise from inadequate proteins (and/or calories) in the right proportion. It’s main result is underweight, stunted linear growth and even kwashiorkor. So as much as possible, take in protein in the right proportion.

2) GET GOOD SLEEP

Getting good sleep boosts the general body condition.

• Children between 0-2 years should have about 13-16 hours sleep

• Children between 3-5 years should have about 10-13 hours sleep

• 6-17 years should have about 8-10 hours sleep

• 17-64 years should have about 7-9 hours sleep

• 64 and above should have about 7-8 hours sleep.

So, as an adolescent who wants to maximize his/her height potential, good sleep is very important.

3) EXERCISING AND STAYING ACTIVE

Swimming, jogging, stretching, toe touches, Jumping jacks, quadriceps stretch, lunges and many others are great exercises that helps one grow taller. Also being active, engaging in sporting activities helps the growth and development of the body.

Also, do flexibility exercises like:

Yoga, twists, stretches. Stretches include:

• Static Stretches e.g. Shoulder stretch, triceps and biceps stretch, child’s pose, Cobra Stretch, finger to toe touches etc., and

• Dynamic stretches e.g. Lunge with a twist, arm circles, jumping jacks and so on.

The bottom line is exercise helps to improve one’s height.

4) WORK ON YOUR POSTURE

The way you stand greatly affects your height. Bad posture makes you appear shorter. Slouching or bending while walking over time will alter you physical appearance, making you appear shorter.

However, when you stand straight, with your chest slightly pushed forward and your back as straight as possible, you are able to appear tall.

Be mindful of the way you stand, sit and sleep. It goes a long way in affecting your height.

5) SOMETIMES, THE WAY YOU DRESS MAKES YOU LOOK SHORTER OR TALLER.

Wearing baggy pants and big sized shirts might make you appear smaller than you actually are compared to when you wear slim fitted pants and shirt that is properly tucked in. Also, wearing vertical striped dresses will help you appear taller. Keeping long hair, wearing hats, wearing height enhancing shoes will also go a long way.

The bottom line of it all is, do not really expect much height to be added after puberty, so, while in your adolescent age, maximize your height gaining potential. Generally also, men have the potential of growing taller than women.

Being tall is a thing of pride.

Feel free to contact me in case of any question. Don’t forget to like, share and comment.

Merci 💪