What are some ways to increase a child's height?

Children can be examined to diagnose the cause of their stunted growth, and then addressed through nutritional supplementation, exercise, or medication.

Dr. Le Kim Hue, a specialist in nutrition at the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center, said that many factors affect a child's height. Applying medicine at the right time and in the right way can help children increase their height and become more confident in life.

- What is the current situation regarding height and nutrition among Vietnamese children?

According to the 2019-2020 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health , the rate of stunting among children under 5 years old nationwide is 19.6%. However, there are still disparities between regions in Vietnam regarding the rate of stunting.

The reason is that while Vietnamese children's nutrition has improved, it is not uniform. In large cities, children's nutritional status tends to be overweight or obese. Meanwhile, many poor communes and ethnic minority areas still lack food, information, and knowledge about childcare, leading to high rates of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies.

Children can increase their height through medical treatment, proper nutrition, and regular exercise. Photo: Freepik — Children can increase their height through medical treatment, proper nutrition, and regular exercise. Photo: *Freepik*

- Are there any other reasons why children may not grow taller or at all?

Many factors influence a child's height, but some of the following are more common:

Growth hormone deficiency, also known as growth hormone (GH): The child's body has a problem producing or releasing insufficient growth hormone, leading to a deficiency that affects height.

Hypothyroidism: Thyroid hormones directly affect growth and metabolism. When the body does not produce enough thyroid hormones, it can also cause children to grow taller.

Family history: If both parents are below average height, their children are also unlikely to be exceptionally tall.

Fetal malnutrition : Babies born with a low birth weight (under 2.5 kg) may have their height affected later in life.

Turner syndrome: Children with this syndrome have a partial or complete loss of the X sex chromosome in their genome.

In addition, children with rickets, micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin A, iron, or iodine deficiency, or chronic diseases such as heart or kidney disease, or Down syndrome, may also have their height affected.

- What are some ways for families to help their children grow taller naturally?

Families should pay attention to their children from the prenatal stage, through the ages of 0-3, and during puberty. Parents should monitor their children's body metrics as recommended, and then take them for regular health checkups to detect problems and intervene as early as possible.

If children don't have any health problems, they should exercise regularly. A sedentary lifestyle inhibits the development of cartilage, muscles, and bones, thus reducing height growth. Furthermore, sports promote overall health and physical development.

Families should ensure their children receive a balanced and nutritious diet based on the Vietnamese food pyramid model. Nutrition is the most important factor, potentially influencing up to 32% of a child's height development.

Dr. Le Kim Hue, Specialist in Nutrition.

- The doctor mentioned that a growth hormone deficiency could be a cause of stunted growth in children. How can this problem be addressed?

Children who are stunted, suspected of having a growth hormone deficiency, need to be examined and diagnosed promptly. They can be treated with growth hormone therapy, a method already used in many developed countries.

Specifically, families should have their children examined and treated before puberty (4-13 years old) because medication is no longer effective or has less effect in later stages. Children will receive hormone injections before bedtime, between 9 and 10 PM, with a specific dosage calculated by the doctor in the treatment plan. If they respond to treatment, their height can increase by 8-12 cm per year.

However, the use of growth hormone must be prescribed by a specialist doctor, tailored to each child's individual condition. The injection equipment and solutions containing growth hormone also require close monitoring by a specialist to ensure the correct dosage is administered and to avoid side effects.

Van Ha
(Source:FPT Long Châu)

FPT Long Châu aims to help children overcome their insecurities about their height, bring medical advancements closer and more easily at a reasonable cost, and contribute to opening up a future of tall, healthy children in Vietnam.

Therefore, FPT Long Chau pharmacy chain, along with hospital pharmacies, provides guidance on growth hormone treatment methods, and parents can seek advice from them. The system also offers a service to pre-program the volume of growth hormone injections for children, ensuring families adhere strictly to the doctor's treatment plan.

For more details, please visit https://nhathuoclongchau.com.vn/

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