Question:
I feel like my being a late bloomer or having delayed puberty is the only reason I ended up tall. I’m 6’4. Most of my family is short. The tallest one in my whole family is 5’11. Could it be possible that delayed puberty makes you tall? I read on the Internet that people with delayed puberty have shorter growth spurts, which I don’t think is true considering that I ended up tall.
Can you answer this?
Answer:
Let’s say that the average boy grows nine inches during stage 3. During childhood, you grow about 1 to 2 inches per year. Thus, the average boy starts his growth spurt at age 12 at a height of around 4’11. Leaving him at 5’8″ at the end of stage 3. Boys grow an additional 1-3 inches in stage 4, which leaves him around 5’9 to 5’10.
Now, let’s take a boy who doesn’t start his growth spurt until age 16. He has had 4 more years of childhood growth, so he would be 5’7 at the start of his growth spurt. If he also added nine inches, he would be 6’4 at the end of stage 3. But let’s assume that because he started late, he only grows an additional seven inches because of the shorter time. He still ends up at 6’2. Then you add another 1-3 inches during stage 4 and he ends up being about 6’4.
Since the average male is 5’9, it sounds more like your family is of average or slightly above average height. You just happen to get the right combination to make you the tallest in your family.
Question:
So are late bloomers’ growth spurts shorter? My family is pretty short my dad is 5”5. My mom is 5”3. The second tallest in my family is my older brother. He’s 5”11. I was an extremely late bloomer. I started gaining height when I was around 18. I think I was around 5”6 or 5”7 before I hit my growth spurt. I am pretty sure that my late puberty is the only reason I ended up tall. All my friends hit puberty at 12-14 and all of them are like 5”9-5”11.
Answer:
There are many factors that go into height, but it is your genetics that controls your maximum potential. Not every tall person is a late bloomer. Not every late bloomer is tall, though the tendency is to be taller than average.
When a late bloomer starts really late, there is a limit to how long growth can take place. Therefore, the stages are a bit shorter for late bloomers, but the one that typically gets sacrificed the most is stage 4. This is why late bloomers tend to have narrower shoulders. The widening of the shoulders is one of the last things that happen.
Question:
That explains why I’m insanely skinny and lack strength. I weigh about 195 pounds. I’m 24. By the way, I have a girlfriend who’s 5’4 and weighs 120; yet, I have narrower shoulders than her, which can be kind of embarrassing. Are late bloomers also weak in strength?
Answer:
Strength comes from exercising. Your body type might not be one to develop large muscles, but all body types can develop strength. Generally, those who don’t develop large muscles are faster in movement.