Adolescence is the second period in human life with the highest increase in height. The average length of newborn babies is 50 cm. At the age of one year, it grows rapidly at approximately 74 cm. 1-2 years old baby grows by 12 cm on average. Afterwards, the increase in height continues as 5-6 cm on average until puberty. At puberty, girls grow 20-25 cm and boys 25-30 cm; In some boys, height growth may exceed 30 cm.
What are the Positive and Negative Factors Affecting Height Growth?
1) Genetics: DNA, which determines a person's height is the main factor. Scientists have identified more than 700 different genes that determine height. Some of these genes affect growth plates and others affect the production of growth hormones. Normal height ranges also differ by ethnicity. Again, this is determined by DNAs. Children with Down syndrome, Noonan syndrome or certain genetic conditions such as Turner syndrome are expected to be shorter than their peers. Those with Marfan syndrome tend to be taller.
2) Hormones: The body produces hormones that tell the growth plates to make new bone. These hormones, called growth hormones, are made in the pituitary gland and are the most important group of hormones for growth. Some health conditions can restrict the amount of growth hormones the body makes and lead to short stature. Children with a rare genetic condition called congenital growth hormone deficiency grow much more slowly than other children.
3) Thyroid hormones: The thyroid gland produces hormones that affect growth. Low thyroid or growth hormone levels can lead to slower growth rates and shorter adult stature.
4) Sex hormones: The reason for the rapid increase in height during puberty is the increased effect of estrogen hormone in girls, testosterone hormone in boys, and growth hormone, while at the same time increasing the effect of growth hormone on themselves. stimulates height growth. Since the estrogen hormone secreted in girls has a maturing effect on growth cartilages that provide neck elongation, growth cartilages rapidly ossify and close after menstruation. Therefore, after menstruation, girls grow a little taller. Height increase in regular menstruation, but only after the first menstruation p; It is around 5-6 cm.
5) Gender: Men tend to be taller than women. Males may also continue to grow longer than females. On average, an adult male is 14 cm taller than an adult female.
6) Nutrition: Malnourished children are usually shorter and smaller than expected during childhood, but with proper nutrition and precautions, this gap can close before they reach adulthood.
7 ) Medications: The use of certain medications can slow growth. Chronic use of corticosteroids is a possible example of this. However, chronic diseases such as asthma that often require corticosteroids can also affect growth.
8) Chronic diseases: Health problems such as cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, and Celiac disease lead to a shorter-than-expected adult height. Children with cancer may also be shorter. In addition, there may be short stature in diseases that cause long-term cortisone treatment, such as liver diseases, chronic intestinal disorders or rheumatic disorders, chronic heart diseases, asthma. While the release of growth hormone is negatively affected in these patients, the children's stature remains short due to the late puberty. Psychological problems experienced negatively affect the function of hormones. In cases where one of the parents is lost, being away from the home environment or there is intense exam stress, inadequacy in the release of some hormones and growth hormone that initiates puberty develops and sufficient height growth is not observed.
When Will Height Growth Stop?
The ossification effect of estrogen hormone is more than testosterone. This is why boys grow longer than girls. Sex hormones first cause rapid height increase, and then they cause growth arrest as they cause closure in growth cartilages.
In order for sex hormones to exert their height-enhancing effects, thyroid hormone and growth hormone must also be secreted at normal levels in adolescents. In the later stages of puberty, the bone ends of the bone epiphyses (growth cartilage) The radiological image showing that they are fused proves that no further growth will occur, regardless of age.
Does Girls Enter Puberty Before Boys Affect Height Growth?
Girls reach puberty by an average of two years compared to boys. It enters first, reaches its fastest growth period two years ago, and full-grown height reaches at least two years before menstruation. Therefore, bone development in girls is expected to be advanced by two years. Growth in girls stops a few years after menstruation starts, but continues, albeit slightly, until the age of 17-18 in boys.
Can Height Increase in Children During Growth and Development?
Some factors affecting height controllable, some uncontrollable. Height can be increased with some environmental variables other than those originating from genetics and DNA. Otherwise, there is a possibility of a shorter stay than expected. This will ensure that they receive all the vitamins and minerals they need for their development.
Protein and calcium are especially important for bone health and growth. Some protein-rich foods include:
- Meat and poultry,
- Seafood,
- Eggs,
- Legumes,
- Nuts and oilseeds.
- Yogurt,
- Milk,
- Cheese,
- Broccoli ,
- Brussels sprouts,
- Soybeans,
- Sardines,
- Salmon.
Regular exercise is important for normal physical development as well as height. For example, playing outside or exercising routinely can make bones healthier, denser and stronger.
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