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What Affects Human Height?

Human stature is a quantitative trait manipulated by genetics and environmental factors. Some studies estimate inheritable human height by studying the degree of resemblance between relatives. Other analyses show how height heritability among different ethnic groups varies. Still more reports take these results further by analyzing how multiple factors, such as environment, genetic background, dietary habits, lifestyle and ethnicity each play important individual roles in determining human height.

  1. Normal Growth Patterns

    • Most human babies are born within an average size range and yet they end up growing to various heights. The final height characteristics inherited by a child typically reflect upon the parents. During the first year of life, children grow an average 10 inches. This growth slows by half in the second year and levels off to a steady rate of about 2 to 2 and 1/2 inches per year until age 12. Pubertal growth spurts occur at roughly this age and conclude approximately 2 years later. The growing ends of the bones fuse around age 16 to 18, at which time a child has reached his maximum height.

    Unusual, yet Normal, Growth Patterns

    • One common variant of the normal growth pattern occurs when a child is shorter than average most of his life, and then enters puberty later than expected. This delayed adolescence or maturation is called constitutional growth delay and typically runs in families.

    Abnormal Growth Patterns

    • Poor nutrition, systemic diseases, bone disorders and intrauterine growth retardation can all affect adult human height. Short stature in girls may be caused by a genetic condition affecting the X chromosome, which contains genetic materials that determine which characteristics are inherited. Tumors, hormonal imbalances and thyroid deficiencies may also result in stunted height.

    Abnormally Tall Stature

    • Tall children are usually the result of tall parents, but there are also medical conditions which may result in an abnormally tall stature and rapid height growth. Excessive growth hormones, genetic conditions such as Klinefelter's Syndrome and precocious puberty are just a few examples.

    Environmental Factors

    • According to USDA Molecular Biologist Dr. Chao-Qiang Lai, "When a given environment maximizes the genetic potential of a population for a given trait, this population tends to have a higher heritability for that trait, and vice versa." In addition, vitamins and minerals can positively influence human height, as well as optimum pre-pubescent nutrition.

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