Ideal height and a balanced physique offer many advantages in everyday life. However, the notion that "short parents cannot have tall children" or, conversely, "tall parents will have tall children" is a common misconception.
According to Doctor Calvin Q Trinh, Director of HMR Musculoskeletal Correction and Rehabilitation Center, human height depends on many factors. Besides genetic factors, nutrition, physical activity, and living environment play crucial roles. Therefore, "it is completely normal for children to grow significantly taller than their parents with proper investment", said the doctor. If parents rely solely on good genes and neglect other factors, children are still at risk of stunted growth.
Many families frantically over-feed their children with nutrients and vitamins when they see their child entering puberty but remaining small. In reality, the body's most significant growth spurt occurs right from the womb. From a single zygote cell, a fetus develops into a baby 50–55 cm long after 9 months. Meanwhile, during puberty, often considered a period of rapid height increase, the body only grows about 10–12 cm within 12 months.
Therefore, nutrition and care must be consistent throughout a child's growing years to gradually build cartilage and bones, rather than trying to "skip stages".
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The doctor examines a patient. Photo: Doctor provided |
Parents can support their child's growth through practical measures, starting with maintaining a balanced diet. This includes diverse foods to provide sufficient energy and a balanced intake of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It is essential to supplement with protein- and calcium-rich foods such as: meat, fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, and dairy products. Additionally, children sleeping before 10 PM will help the pituitary gland secrete more growth hormone (GH).
Parents should encourage children to play outdoors or participate in sports that strengthen bones, such as: basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, and cycling.
Families can also take their children for nutritional check-ups so doctors can detect micronutrient deficiencies (vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc).
While medical interventions exist to improve children's height, each method has specific limitations. For instance, growth hormone injection therapy is rarely used solely for height increase because children require daily subcutaneous injections. Similarly, leg lengthening surgery only extends the lower leg, which can easily cause an imbalance between the lower limbs and the rest of the body. Many children who undergo this procedure still feel self-conscious and avoid wearing shorts, sportswear, or swimwear.
Parents can consider shockwave therapy as a non-invasive option. This treatment method has almost no side effects, and it does not affect a child's daily activities or studies. When this therapy is combined with a specific exercise regimen, optimal height growth results can be achieved.
Thuy An
