How tall will I be? Understanding the factors that determine height

  • Thread starter tommy-gunn
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In summary: The Black Method focuses on your current physical activity and diet - make changes based on how active you are and what you eat.
  • #1
tommy-gunn
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Are genetics the main component on how tall you will grow up in life? or does weight, physical activity, what you eat, smoking, drugs, alcohol, effect on how tall you will be?
 
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  • #2
It is generally considered to be a 'Heredity <-> Environment' interaction, it is a plastic response. The current consensus is there is no perfect understanding of the whole mechanism. Example - one identical twin can be taller than the other . Identical twins have the same genes.

In simple terms it means:
The genetic component sets a range of possible outcomes, the environment (food, alcohol, etc.) pushes the outcome one way or another.

The genetic component for height in humans is not at a single locus (gene place on the chromosome) but related to several loci. This is multifactorial inheritance - where a lot of different genes interact with each other (to set a possible range of outcomes) and the environment dictates the rest.
 
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  • #3
tommy-gunn said:
Are genetics the main component on how tall you will grow up in life? or does weight, physical activity, what you eat, smoking, drugs, alcohol, effect on how tall you will be?

I'm sure you've heard of elevator shoes.:smile:
 
  • #4
tommy-gunn said:
Are genetics the main component on how tall you will grow up in life? or does weight, physical activity, what you eat, smoking, drugs, alcohol, effect on how tall you will be?

Genetics are the main component by far. Physical activity and diet plays a tiny role.

I am only 5'1".
 
  • #5
stickythighs said:
Physical activity and diet plays a tiny role.

I am only 5'1".
That may not be true. I was a long-distance runner in HS and I trained heavily. When I graduated, I had not yet reached 5'3". My first year in college (almost no running, and certainly not 5-6 miles a day) I grew by about 4".

My niece is the smallest person in her family and trained heavily (modern dance, ballet, etc). She is a couple of inches shorter than her mother at 5'1" and her younger sister is about 5'8". One of her cousins is by far the shortest person in her family, and she trained heavily, as well (gymnastics). Again, she is shorter than her mother. Both of these ladies are quite petite and you wouldn't guess that they are in their 30's. They both get carded whenever they go to a place that serves alcohol.
 
  • #6
Assuming you live in a country with good nutrition (you are on the internet!) and no major diseases there are two common models:
The Gray Method focuses on your genetic potential - average your mother and father's heights and add five inches if you are a boy or subtract five inches if you are a girl.
 

What factors influence my height?

There are several factors that can influence your height, including genetics, nutrition, and overall health. Genetics play a large role in determining how tall you will be, as height is often passed down through family members. Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can also contribute to reaching your maximum potential height.

Is there a maximum height that a person can reach?

While there is no exact maximum height that a person can reach, most individuals will stop growing in their late teens or early twenties. This is because the growth plates in the bones fuse and stop producing new cells, which leads to a halt in height growth.

Can I do anything to increase my height?

Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that any specific exercises or treatments can increase a person's height. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you reach your maximum potential height.

What role does gender play in determining height?

On average, males tend to be taller than females due to hormonal differences and genetics. However, there is a wide range of heights among individuals of both genders, and gender alone is not the sole determining factor of height.

At what age will I stop growing in height?

Most individuals will stop growing in height by their late teens or early twenties, as this is when the growth plates in the bones fuse and stop producing new cells. However, some individuals may continue to grow in height into their mid-twenties.

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