Expert: Joanne - 1/2/2007

Question
Dear Holly,
I really need your help. When I was 12, I went into an anorexic state. But at the age of 14, I recovered and started eating quite well. Now I am 18 but my growth is stunted a few inches as my siblings are much taller. Is there any chance of increasing my height without the use of medications by using certain exercises and diet? I would really be happy and thankful if you answer me.
Thanking you,
Trisha

Answer
At the age of 18, I think it would be unlikely you will grow much, if at all, now.  I don't know whether medications will work now either!

As a child, your bones are not completely formed yet.  A lot is made up of cartilage plates rather than true bone.  These cartilage plates are what allows you to get taller, but once they have calcified, that process stops.  At 18, your bones should be more or less completely calcified.

It is likely that anorexia may have caused stunted growth, but it is also important to remember that you may not have been much taller anyway.  I have 4 younger siblings, and the one next to me in age is smaller than the rest of us by quite a few inches!  Even our youngest sister who is 6/7 years younger than her is already getting taller than her!  She must have just got genes from our parents that meant she was going to be shorter while the rest of us got the dominant 'tall' genes!

I hope that you have found this useful, and it helps put your mind at rest.  If not, maybe it is worth going to speak to your Dr!

Happy New Year
Holly