Methods for Increasing Height

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2003 approval of human growth hormone for children has brought out a slew of questions regarding height change for people of all ages. his article explores several popular treatments for cosmetic height increase and looks at the science behind these approaches.

Human Growth Hormone

• In 2003, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of growth hormones in children who tested in the lowest percentiles for height but did not show traits of any other disease. Wealthy parents seeking a better life for their children are using this growth hormone to try to make their children taller and thus, as they believe, more respected in our society. Some studies say that children who are injected with the hormone on a regular basis grow an average of 3 inches taller than their expected adult height. A recent study from the Goteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center in Sweden reported nearly 8 inches of height increase in some cases.

Yoga and Strengthening

• Human growth hormone is not the only way people seek to gain a few inches. Proponents of yoga and stretching insist that strengthening and straightening the spine can add to one's height, even after the bones are full-grown. Proponents like Dr. Darwin Smith, maker of Grow Taller 4 Idiots, insist that 35 percent of height depends on the health and muscle tone of the spinal cord. Thus, proponents argue, correct exercise can increase height by 2 to 4 inches. However, there is so far little objective scientific evidence to corroborate this.

Vitamins and Herbs

• While some websites offer vitamins and herbs to increase height, the greatest single indicator of a person's height potential is his ancestry. Provided that he receives adequate nutrition, there is no scientific evidence that extra vitamins can help him surpass his genetic potential.