17 how much will i grow

Although you may be concerned that your child is too thin or too chubby at any one time, the most important thing is that your child continues to grow at a steady rate. During the second year of life, babies are learning to feed themselves. They are moving to table foods and learning about new tastes and textures. Keep in mind that appetites slow down as growth slows and there may be times when your child is not very interested in food.

If you have concerns your child is not eating enough, speak with your doctor. Encourage activity and exploration by providing a safe environment that lets your child be active every day.

Besides the physical benefits, this is also how a lot of learning takes place. This should be fairly easy, as most toddlers are naturally curious and seize every opportunity to move.

Try not to let your baby spend too much time in confined spaces — such as strollers, playpens, and cribs — that restrain moving and exploring. Toddlers grow at a slower but steady rate. Additionally, other research shows that the primary concerns for weight training injuries are a lack of supervision or improper use of equipment 22 , In adults, growth plates have closed and become stronger than during childhood.

Because of this, the risk of growth plate damage is not a major concern. Indeed, weight lifting can lead to minor compression of spinal discs in adults. However, this is reversible and also occurs during normal daily activities 13 , 16 , 19 , In this case, the size and health of the discs in your spine can be compromised, and it is possible that a slight decrease in height could occur Although you may not be able to change your height substantially as an adult, there are things you can do to maximize your height potential in your teenage years.

While many children eat enough or even too much , diet quality is often poor Because of this, many individuals in modern society are deficient in important nutrients like vitamin D and calcium These nutrients are very important for bone growth and overall health 27 , Calcium from the diet alters hormone production in a way that benefits your bones.

Vitamin D may also improve bone health 29 , One great way to combat nutrient deficiencies and promote optimal bone growth is to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables 31 , Eating enough protein is also essential for bone health, although some people have questioned whether high protein intake can harm your bones.

However, a large analysis of 36 studies found that higher protein intake is not harmful to your bones. In fact, higher protein intake was beneficial for the bone density of the spine One way to increase your protein intake is to try to consume at least 20 grams of protein each time you eat. Good sources of protein include eggs, poultry, lean meats and dairy. Soy and other legumes are also high in protein. While proper nutrition during childhood is essential for reaching your greatest height, there may be differences between men and women.

Some research has shown that environmental factors, such as nutrition, may play a larger role in height in women than men. This may be partially due to differences in access to food and medical care or the higher rates of osteoporosis in women Other lifestyle choices, such as not smoking, could also benefit your height during development First, the closure of the growth plates may be delayed in some individuals 36 , If the growth plates remain open past age 18 to 20, which is uncommon, height could continue to increase.

Second, some suffer from gigantism. This condition causes excessive growth, often due to too much growth hormone GH production However, these individuals typically only increase in height until their growth plates close around age 22 Furthermore, one form of hemochromatosis, a condition in which excessive iron is absorbed in the intestines, may also cause an increase in height While these simple strategies may help, some people resort to more extreme measures, such as medical treatments or procedures.

Several of these procedures involve lengthening the bones of the lower leg 41 , However, due to the invasive and expensive nature of these operations, many do not choose such drastic measures. These procedures are even banned in some countries. Others seek out treatment with growth hormone GH. While GH can improve height in children who are not growing properly, benefits of this treatment in adults are unlikely 43 , Ultimately, finding a way to accept your height is recommended over considering more extreme measures.

Although you may not be able to increase your height as much as you would like, there are things you can do to help yourself accept your current height. If your doctor detects a problem — such as a growth rate that had been normal but has recently flattened — he or she may track your child's measurements carefully over several months to see whether the growth pattern suggests a possible health problem or is just a variation of normal. It's not unusual for teens to have their own concerns about how they're growing and how they look.

Girls can be very critical of their own weight, which can sometimes lead to unhealthy body image concerns and dieting practices. Boys tend to be more concerned with their height and muscle development, which can also lead to unhealthy practices, like using steroids and protein supplements.

If you're concerned about your teen's body image, or eating and exercise habits, talk with the doctor. Many teens worry a lot about being different from their peers and about anything that would make them not fit in or seem "normal. The doctor can provide reassurance that other kids have the same concerns about their size.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. There's a very broad range of time in which kids hit puberty-related growth spurts: Most girls start their sexual development between the ages of 8 and 13 the average age is 12 , and have a growth spurt between the ages of 10 and Most boys start developing sexually between the ages of 10 and 13, and continue to grow until they're around Growth and Changes During Puberty Puberty — or sexual development — is a time of dramatic change for both boys and girls.

Changes in Girls Events in girls as they go through puberty: Breasts begin to develop and hips become rounded.