At the age of 16, you’re allowed to drive a car. By the time you’re 18, you’re considered an adult in every country around the world. And when you reach the age of 21, you’re allowed to buy alcohol – but when does your height stop increasing?
The fact of the matter is that every individual grows at a different rate. Even when you consider puberty, even though everyone goes through it, not all of us are going through it at the same time. For most people, the effects of puberty slowly phase out between two to five years. So, there’s no telling when you’ll start growing a beard or have a deep voice.
Between birth and maturity our height triples. Most people reach maximum height by the age of 20, but some lucky or unlucky individuals continue to grow even after the age of 20. The height we reach and how fast we grow depends on a lot of factors. Our skeletal system has completely matured by the time we’re teens (if you haven’t got a growth spurt).
In this article, we’ll be going through the different stages people stop growing and the different factors that affect them.
When Do Women Stop Growing?
Considering the rate babies outgrow their clothes – it seems like they’re growing at an alarming rate. In the first year of their life, the growth rate of a girl is usually 10 inches. As she reaches her second year, she’ll start growing at an average of 5 inches per year, and in the third year, she’ll grow at a speed of 3 and a half inches approximately.
By the time girls are four, they’ve doubled their height, which might seem like an amazing growing speed. But as women reach the time of puberty, parents might note a slight growth spurt. Since the human body goes through massive changes during the time of puberty, growing at a consistent rate can be rare.
When Do Girls Stop Growing?
Since puberty can be different for everyone, girls go through puberty at different phases of their life. Girls usually have their first period between the ages of 10 and 14, and when the changes of puberty start to become apparent, the growth rate of a girl might slow down.
As girls reach puberty, their height begins to slow down and in two and a half years they reach their maximum height. This means, if you’re a girl, there’s a good chance you’ve achieved maximum growth by the age of 14 or 15.
But that does not mean that their body does not go through any further changes after their height has stopped increasing. Breast changes and variations in weight still continue but it’s also important to remember that this consideration isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some women also reach their maximum height before they start going through puberty, while some can also continue to grow even in their teenage years.
That is why predicting the growth rate of a girl isn’t exactly easy. Even though there are several methods that can help you still can’t be certain if a given method you’re using is right. However, if you’re concerned that your doctor won’t be able to reach a good height, you should consult a doctor. The doctor might help you determine if there are any hormonal problems you should be aware of.
When Do Boys Stop Growing?
Just like girls, the growth rate of a boy also depends on the time they start puberty. Some boys, just like girls, go through puberty a bit later. There’s no need to elaborate on the fact that boys experience changes in different parts of their bodies compared to girls. Even though girls start growing earlier than boys, boys reach the peak of their growth rate a lot later.
Between the ages of 13 or 15, boys enter pubertal development, but some early boomers can even start going through this stage at the age of 9 or 10. So quite literally, the height you’re able to reach depends on your gender. Even though the growth rate of boys can be slow at the start, but with the passage of time, they do tend to catch up.
Tracking the growth of your son relies on a lot of factors. Every child grows at their own pace. Even if your child is growing at a slower rate than their peers, they might still be on track according to the potential height they’re supposed to have.
Conclusion
Doctors often use the term ”potential height” when they discuss the growth rate a of boy or the growth rate of a girl. This term explains that all people are supposed destined to reach a height when they’re born. Their ability to reach this height depends on a lot of factors and there aren’t many theories that prove you can go beyond your potential height.
So don’t fret! Try to eat healthy foods and don’t get sick too often, your height isn’t a factor that is completely under your control anyway.