In the first episode of the popular show "Super Mom 2", Hu Ke learns in the hospital that Xiaoyuer is not growing taller and becomes worried. What are the reasons for a child not growing taller? Let's take a look together with the editor!
10 Reasons Why Children Don't Grow Taller:
1. Picky eating and an imbalanced diet
According to statistics, 80% of children have imbalanced nutrient intake. Picky eating will inevitably result in a long-term insufficient intake of nutrients such as calcium, iron, and zinc, which are essential for children's growth and development. As a result, children naturally do not grow taller.
2. Precocious puberty and early development of secondary sexual characteristics
The direct consequence of precocious puberty is the premature maturation of the bones and the closure of the epiphyseal plates. This shortens the growth period of children and ultimately hinders their height growth.
3. Late bedtime and poor sleep quality
A child's height is directly related to sleep. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormones from 23:00 to 1:00, so it is best for children to go to bed before 10:00 pm to ensure sufficient secretion of growth hormones and meet their growth needs.
4. Overeating and excessive food consumption
Eating too much directly affects the growth of children. Only when blood sugar is low, i.e. in a state of hunger, will the pituitary gland objectively secrete more growth hormones, stimulating the growth of children's bones.
5. Growing less than 5 centimeters per year before puberty
Before puberty, children on average grow 5-6 centimeters per year. If a child's growth rate is below the average, external factors should be used to help the child grow taller! The golden period of height growth should not be missed.
6. Taking supplements randomly and unscientifically
It is irresponsible to let children take supplements when they are short. Some supplements contain hormones, which not only do not help children grow taller but also cause premature closure of epiphyseal plates, shortening the period of height growth.
7. Obese children and illusory height
The development of obese children is usually earlier and faster than their peers. They indeed have advantages in terms of height, weight, and muscle strength. However, this advantage does not last long. Generally, girls stop growing at the age of 13-14 and boys at the age of 14-15. Obesity reduces the secretion of growth hormones, directly affecting children's height growth.
8. Early development in childhood, early height
Growing too early is the most harmful, because early-maturing children are like cars that rush out of the starting line without being fully refueled. They may start off ahead but will eventually break down due to insufficient power. Early-maturing children may enter puberty early, resulting in a height deficiency of 6 cm in adulthood.
9. Parents' short stature and neglect of children
Medical studies have shown that genetics account for 60%-70% of height. However, through efforts in daily life, we can explore 30% of our growth potential, which can still result in an additional 15 cm of height. Therefore, timely intervention should be taken to fully tap into children's growth potential.
10. Children with hypothyroidism
Some children with congenital hypothyroidism may develop the condition before the age of 2. If left untreated, it can lead to intellectual disability. However, if the condition develops after the age of 2, it usually manifests as growth retardation, constipation, anemia, low activity, and decreased appetite.
Experts suggest that parents should keep track of their children's growth curve to clearly understand how much they have grown and whether their height falls within the normal range. If parents notice that their children are growing too slowly through records, they can take them to the hospital for a check-up in a timely manner. If parents do not pay attention to their children's height and only realize the problem when their children are significantly shorter than their peers, it may be too late. In terms of children's height, bone density tests can be used to determine whether children have premature closure of the epiphyseal plates, allowing parents to gain a detailed understanding of their children's height issues and predict their height.
