Last updated on September 3, 2020
Question:
I’m just writing to understand if I can grow anymore or not. The last time I grew was when I was 14 and now I’m turning 17 this month. I’m the same exact height ever since I was 14, which is 5’10. I’m kind of disappointed because I was expecting to get up to 6’5 tall. =/ So, do you think people who have growth spurts early in life will ever grow in their late teens?
Answer:
Growth is not by age. The changes from childhood to adulthood are triggered in a child’s body and then a sequence of many events leads to the child becoming an adult. Among those changes is the growth in height. When those changes are triggered varies between individuals, but can take place anywhere from 9 to 16 in males. If you start early, then you will finish early.
Your growth comes from your bones getting longer. The growth of bones takes place in growth plates, regions at the end of your bones that produce new bone material. A person has reached his adult height when those growth plates close. Once they close, they cannot be reopened. The only way to know for certain is if a doctor takes an x-ray to see if your growth plates are still open. This is known as a bone age test.
Given that you have not grown in three years, it is highly unlikely that you will grow further. There is a calculator that uses secondary characteristics to help you determine where you are in development. An answer of 5 or higher means you are probably done growing.