Many parents wonder if their child’s current height is an indication of their final adult height. Specifically, parents of shorter children often worry that their child is destined to be short as an adult. The good news is that a child’s height during childhood does not necessarily determine their full grown height.
What factors affect a child’s final adult height?
A child’s final adult height is influenced by several factors:
- Genetics – The heights of biological parents is a strong predictor. However, extreme heights are often an exception.
- Nutrition – Proper nutrition, especially during growth spurts, helps a child reach their full genetic potential.
- Health – Chronic illness or malnutrition can impair growth.
- Environment – Poverty, abuse, psychological trauma may limit proper growth.
While genetics play a key role, environmental factors also significantly influence growth. Many short children with short parents do ultimately grow into average height adults. Similarly, many tall children experience slowed growth rates and reach more moderate heights.
What is the normal growth pattern during childhood?
Human growth from infant to adult follows a typical pattern:
- 0-3 months – The fastest growth period of life. Babies grow 10 inches and triple birth weight.
- 3-12 months – Growth slows but babies grow 6-8 inches and double weight.
- 12-24 months – Babies add 3-5 inches and increase weight by 50%.
- 2-6 years – Children grow 2-3 inches per year.
- 7 years – Growth slows to about 2 inches per year until puberty begins.
- 8-13 years (girls) or 9-14 years (boys) – Puberty causes growth spurts and peaked growth.
- 13-17 years (girls) or 14-19 years (boys) – Growth slows and eventually stops as puberty finishes.
As evident by the wide normal ranges, the timing and tempo of growth varies significantly between children. Short stature in childhood does not dictate short stature in adulthood if growth tempo simply occurs later.
What is considered short stature in children?
Short stature or height in children is defined as:
- Height under 3% on standard pediatric growth charts
- Height under 2 standard deviations below average
- Height for age below the 3rd percentile
Using age-specific growth charts, any child falling significantly below the normal curve may be evaluated for growth problems. However, many of these children have no underlying medical issue and are just “short normals” with genetic potential for smaller heights. Up to 3% of all children fall into this category.
What medical conditions can cause short stature?
In some cases, short stature is caused by an underlying medical condition. These include:
- Genetic disorders – Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome
- Endocrine disorders – Growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism
- Chronic illness – Cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease
- Malnutrition – Marasmus, kwashiorkor
- Neurologic issues – Cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries or tumors
Children with these diagnoses may benefit from early medical treatment to help maximize their growth potential. However, their final adult heights remain partially determined by genetics.
How is short stature evaluated by doctors?
If a child presents with short stature, a pediatrician performs a full evaluation including:
- Detailed history – Birth height/weight, parental heights, diet, chronic illnesses, surgeries
- Physical exam assessing – Dysmorphic features, body proportions, signs of chronic illness
- Plotting height over time on a growth curve
- Left hand x-ray to determine bone age
- Blood tests to check hormone levels and rule out chronic illnesses
In most cases, no underlying disorder is found and short stature is chalked up to familial tendency towards smaller body size. Only about 2% of short children have an identifiable growth disorder.
What is the predicted adult height based on pediatric height?
Doctors use several methods to predict a child’s final adult height:
- Mid-Parental Height Method – Add mother’s height and father’s height in either inches or cm. Add 5 inches (13 cm) for boys or subtract 5 inches for girls. Divide this total by 2. The result is the child’s predicted height.
- Bayley-Pinneau Method – Uses a child’s bone age on an x-ray compared to their chronological age to predict remaining growth.
- Growth Velocity – Tracks growth rates over time. Slowing velocity signals closed growth plates and near final height.
These methods provide an educated guess but actual adult height can still vary significantly from predictions. Monitoring growth patterns over time provides the best assessment.
Do growth hormones help short children become taller adults?
Synthetic growth hormones can be used to treat legitimate growth hormone deficiency. However, most short healthy children produce normal growth hormone.
In these children, synthetic growth hormones can accelerate growth velocity but only for as long as they are administered. The final adult height typically ends up the same as it would have been without treatment. Simple short stature is not an FDA approved indication for growth hormone therapy.
Growth hormones have risks including headache, muscle pain, enlarged hands/feet, and future glucose intolerance. Treatment often provides little benefit so risks may outweigh benefits in short children with no identified disorder.
What lifestyle factors promote optimal childhood growth?
While genetics dictate most of human height, certain lifestyle factors support full growth potential:
- Adequate nutrition with sufficient calories for growth needs
- Avoiding excessive “dieting” or calorie restriction
- Eating a balanced diet with proteins, veggies, fruits, and whole grains
- Getting adequate sleep for nightly recharging
- Minimizing stress through family time, physical activity, and mental health days
- Treating any chronic illnesses early to avoid long term impact
While these practices will not turn a short child tall, they allow children to reach optimal heights within their natural genetic range.
What is the social stigma around short stature?
Unfortunately, short stature carries social stigma. Research shows that short children and adults face stereotyping including assumptions they are:
- Less capable or intelligent
- More shy, anxious, sad, or neurotic
- Less successful in careers and relationships
- Less strong, athletic, and physically able
This leads to social marginalization, lower self-esteem, and higher stress. Support from parents and focusing on strengths can mitigate these effects and help short individuals thrive.
Are there advantages to short adult height?
While tallness is idolized and shortness stigmatized, there are advantages to smaller height:
- Lower risk of some cancers
- Longer projected lifespan
- Lower heart disease and varicose veins risk
- Reduced joint strain and arthritis
- Possible protection from dementia
- Ease playing some sports like gymnastics or horse racing
- Less dangerous falling from heights
- Better fitting in tight spaces like airplanes or cars
Focusing on these healthy aspects can help short individuals appreciate their stature. Height is not directly tied to health or longevity.
What are some examples of successful short adults?
Many highly accomplished individuals stand under 5′ 7″ (170 cm):
| Name | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bruno Mars | 5’5″ (165 cm) | Grammy-winning pop artist |
| Danny DeVito | 4’10” (147 cm) | Renowned actor and director |
| Simone Biles | 4’8″ (142 cm) | Olympic gold medal gymnast |
| Kristi Yamaguchi | 5’1″ (155 cm) | Olympic figure skating champion |
| Prince | 5’3″ (160 cm) | Legendary musical artist |
With talent and perseverance, short people can achieve great heights regardless of their physical stature.
What is the takeaway message?
Short children under the 3rd percentile deserve full medical evaluation. However, most are just “short normals” whose genetics dictate smaller but healthy stature.
With adequate nutrition, healthy habits, medical treatment if indicated, and strong self-esteem, most short kids grow into successful adults leading full lives. While ridicule exists, focusing on strengths provides the best path to thriving at any height.
So can short kids reach tall heights? Absolutely, just not necessarily in terms of inches or centimeters. With the right mindset and supports, their accomplishments can measure up to any scale.