Gaining height is one of the most important benchmarks of growth for children and adolescents. When someone reaches puberty, their height usually increases significantly. So when does their height growth stop?
When does height growth stop?
Height growth accelerates during puberty. During this time, adolescents will experience a growth spurt that takes them towards adulthood. Physical changes like height gain, voice changes, genital organ growth, and emotional development are all part of puberty. Pubertal development can begin and end at different ages in males and females.
Boys
Boys typically begin to exhibit the symptoms of puberty around the age of 12.
It can be difficult to predict when a boy will reach puberty and stop growing in height because every boy experiences puberty at a different age.
Boys' height growth is thought to stop at the age of 16 to 18 years, although keep in mind that this condition varies from child to child. Generally speaking, puberty lasts for 2 to 5 years from the start of puberty.
Girls
Puberty in girls can begin anywhere between the ages of 8 and 13.
While everyone experiences puberty at a different age, girls typically begin to experience it between the ages of 9 and 10. Puberty can last up to four years once it begins.
Around the ages of 11 or 12, teenage girls typically go through their fastest growth spurt. Height usually increases by 7 cm after the onset of menstruation. Girls typically reach adult height between the ages of 14 and 15, but height gain can continue until age 21. In addition to height growth, adolescent girls may also experience weight gain.
Average height of boys and girls
The height of boys and girls varies. Due to their earlier development than boys, girls appear larger and more mature than boys at a certain age.
The average height ranges for Indonesian boys and girls are as follows:
|
Average boy's height (in cm) |
Average girl's height (in cm) | |
| Children (5–12 years) | 110-140 cm | 110-150 cm |
| Teenage years (12–19 years) | 140-175 cm | 150-163 cm |
| Adulthood (19 years and older) | 175 cm | 163-165 cm |
Table 1. Average height based on age
Generally speaking, height growth stops between the ages of 19 and 21. Adult males in Indonesia typically stand 170 cm tall, while adult females stand 163 cm tall on average. However, this can vary from person to person depending on various factors, such as genetics and nutritional intake.
Factors that affect height growth
Sometimes people feel dissatisfied with their height, but it can be hard to change since genetics can play a role.
Various other factors that affect someone's height growth include:
- Genetics: Parents' genes account for about 80% of a person's height
- Environmental factors: socioeconomic status, access to clean water, availability of health facilities, pollution exposure, food consumption habits, and location of residence
- Nutrition: Children who get enough calcium and protein during their growing years typically grow taller
- Medical conditions: Children who suffer from hormonal imbalances, chronic illnesses, or other health issues may be more susceptible to growth disorders
- Sleep: Children and teenagers who get adequate sleep, both in terms of quantity and quality, typically grow taller
Height growth generally ends after puberty, but this can vary from person to person.
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- dr. Monica Salim
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Yetman, D. (2020). Do Guys Keep Growing Until Age 25?. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/do-guys-keep-growing-until-age-25
Marcin, A. (2024). Average Heights of Males Around the World. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/average-height-for-men#
Millhone, C. (2023). What Is the Average Height for Women?. Available from: https://www.health.com/average-height-for-women-8364922
WHO. Height-for-age (5–19 years). Available from: https://www.who.int/tools/growth-reference-data-for-5to19-years/indicators/height-for-age
