About John J. Porterfield Expertise I can answer questions if you are a student in the grade range of preschool through 12th. I can answer questions about your school health class assignments. I can help you with your school health class homework. I can answer general health questions you might have on the topics of Abuse & Addiction, Anatomy, Death & Dying, Diet & Nutrition, Emotional Development, Exercise & Lifestyle Choices, Fitness & Nutrition, Genes & Inherited Risks, Illness & Disease, Medicine & Treatments, Workplace Health, World Health, Safety, Social & Emotional Health, Social Skills, and The Body. I can also make arrangements to help you with your school health class assignments and homework via live chat, if you prefer. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR SCHOOL HEALTH CLASS ASSIGNMENTS OR HOMEWORK, PLEASE TYPE THE ENTIRE QUESTION YOU NEED HELP WITH.
Experience I am a School Health Education Major studying to obtain degrees in School Health and Education and plan to teach in the preschool through 12th grade range, and eventually work my way up to the college/university level. I have attended The University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA; Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA; Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA; and am currently studying at Allegheny County Community College in Pittsburgh, PA. I plan to transfer to Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH in the Spring of 2005 and complete my education there.
Expert: John J. Porterfield Date: 8/27/2004 Subject: growing taller
Question -------------------------
Followup To
Question -
is there anything people can do (except drugs) to grow taller?
Answer -
M.T.--
The age at which a person stops growing vertically varies with the onset of puberty and the speed at which one grows vertically before puberty. It is governed primarily by growth hormone. If you have gone through puberty, then vertical growth is over for you. Some individuals undergo surgery to lengthen the bones of the lower extremity, but this is a very painful process and is also quite expensive. I think you will have to start looking at all the wonderful benefits of being shorter than normal, which is much easier to deal with - and much healthier - than being taller than normal. The height a young person attains is due to growth within the long bones of the body. This growth take place at the junction of the shaft and the two tips of the bone at a thin line of cartilage called the epiphyseal plate. This plate changes from cartilage to bone in response to the sex steroids estrogen (in females) and testosterone (in males). Once the change from cartilage to bone occurs, there can be no more length type growth. Pills do not work; they are a fraud. This Web site talks about how they defraud you: http://www.shortsupport.org/Health/Increase/worst.html .
John
hmmm so what is "normal" height? i think I'm above average... cause a lot of people are way shorter than me... like my twin- shes three inches shorter
so... like when puberty starts... but when will you know its over? when you stop growing? adult size? its just that my friend whos a few cm shorter than me wants to be 5'10 b/c of the "power", we're both 15, I doubt it will happen-- hehe thanks in advanced
Answer Hi!
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John
M.T.--
I do not think there is "normal" height - just an "average" height. I think there is a difference between normal and average. Someone can be taller or shorter than average and still be normal - they are not abnormal! :-) According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average height for an adult female in the United States is 63.7 inches, or 5 feet, 3.7 inches. The average height for an adult male in the United States is 69.1 inches, or 5 feet, 9.1 inches. Ultimately, your height has been predetermined by your genetic makeup and will stabilize near the end of adolescence. People do not stop growing just because they reach a certain age. It depends on when puberty started. The "average" girl continues to grow for about 2 years after her first menstrual period. Then, the growth plates in the bones close, and no further growth can take place.
