Sinchew newspaper reported on 1/12 that the issue came to light when a 15-year-old boy in Zhengzhou city, Henan province, questioned his mother: "My friends are almost 1,7 meters tall, why am I still stuck at 1,38 meters?" Alarmed by the substantial height disparity with his peers, Xiaoyu's family promptly brought him to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University for a check-up.

The examination results astonished both the doctors and Xiaoyu's family. X-ray images revealed the boy's epiphyseal plates, or growth plates, had fully ossified. Despite his chronological age of 15, his bone age matched that of an 18-year-old adult. Doctor Huo Yufeng, who conducted the examination, concluded that Xiaoyu's 'growth switch' had turned off, rendering any further height increase almost impossible.

Illustration: iStock.

This condition stemmed from prolonged irregular lifestyle habits. With parents busy running a business and lacking close supervision, Xiaoyu developed a mobile game addiction at the age of 12. Initially, he played until 11 PM, but his habit escalated. He often hid under blankets, playing until 2-3 AM, and sometimes stayed awake all night. Although his parents occasionally found out, they only offered mild warnings, failing to intervene decisively to regulate his sleep. Consequently, his height remained stagnant over the past two years.

Doctor Huo explained that 15 years old marks a 'golden period' for male height development, yet Xiaoyu neglected sleep, the most crucial factor stimulating growth. Human growth hormone is secreted most robustly during two specific windows: from 10 PM to 1 AM the following morning and from 5 AM to 6 AM. Hormone levels during these times are two to four times higher than during the day. Xiaoyu's consistent late-night activity prevented his body from receiving adequate hormones essential for skeletal development.

Furthermore, blue light emitted from phone screens or night lights inhibits melatonin secretion, the hormone that regulates sleep, indirectly impeding height development.

This case prompted medical experts to urge parents to strictly manage their children's daily routines. Children should be in bed before 10 PM and sleep in a completely dark environment. According to China's 2025 development standard chart, the average height for a 15-year-old male adolescent should be approximately 1,69 meters. Xiaoyu is currently over 30 centimeters shorter than this average.

By Binh Minh (Source: Sina, Sinchew, Shandong TV).