How can children increase their height by 7-15 cm per year?

Many parents focus on nutrition but overlook the crucial period for height growth. Experts warn that late intervention can cause children to miss out on their developmental milestones.

Children can grow rapidly, reaching 7-15 cm per year during puberty. However, without proper care from an early age, the chances of reaching their maximum height will be significantly reduced. Photo: Freepik .

Many parents believe that a child's height is entirely determined by genes. However, nutrition experts assert that this is only part of the story – the more important factor lies in how they are cared for during crucial developmental stages.

According to Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Trong Hung, Director of the Center for Nutritional Counseling, Rehabilitation and Obesity Control, National Institute of Nutrition, children's height does not increase uniformly through different stages but develops strongly during certain "time windows." If these periods are missed, children may lose the opportunity to achieve their optimal stature in adulthood.

Key growth milestones

The expert stated that a child's height is influenced by two main groups of factors. The group that cannot be influenced includes genetic factors (genes) and gender.

Meanwhile, intervention options include nutrition, physical activity levels, hormones, and medication use. These are crucial factors that can be adjusted to support better child development.

Notably, the timing of intervention is also crucial. Research shows that comprehensive, continuous care from an early age creates optimal conditions for height development. However, special attention should be paid to three "golden" periods:

• Pregnancy
• The 0-2 year old stage
• Pre-puberty - puberty stage.

"Children's height increases rapidly in specific stages. At birth, children are about 50 cm tall. In the first year, they can grow another 25 cm. In the second year, the increase is about 10-12 cm. From then until before puberty, children grow an average of 5-7 cm each year," Associate Professor Hung said.

In particular, during the pre-puberty and puberty stages, growth rates can reach 7-15 cm per year. This is the most rapid increase throughout the entire developmental process.

What can we do to help children reach their optimal height?

Although genetic factors or gender cannot be changed, parents can still improve their children's height through scientific methods.

A child's height is not solely determined by genes but also largely depends on the "golden period" of development. Photo: Freepik.

According to Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung, nutrition plays a crucial role in growth. For women, it's essential to improve their nutritional status before pregnancy, avoiding malnutrition or overweight, while ensuring adequate micronutrient intake. During pregnancy, mothers need a balanced diet, a healthy work-rest schedule, and regular prenatal checkups.

For young children, breastfeeding should be exclusive for the first 6 months and continued until 24 months of age or longer. From 6 months of age, children need to be introduced to solid foods with a diverse and balanced diet. Foods rich in protein and calcium such as meat, fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, milk and dairy products should be emphasized to support height development.

" Sleep also plays a crucial role in the secretion of growth hormone. When children sleep soundly, their bodies release the necessary hormones, helping their bones develop better. Therefore, ensuring sufficient sleep time and quality is an indispensable factor," Dr. Hung emphasized.

Regular physical activity helps strengthen bones and promotes healthy growth. Children should be encouraged to play outdoors and participate in age-appropriate sports to improve their fitness and support height growth.

He also suggested that regular monitoring of height and weight helps detect early signs of developmental delays, allowing for timely intervention.

In addition, full vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, and regular deworming help boost immunity and reduce illness—factors that can affect a child's development.

Parents should take their children for regular nutritional checkups to detect early signs of micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, or unhealthy eating habits. From there, doctors can provide appropriate solutions to help children achieve their full potential in terms of health and stature.

Source: https://znews.vn/lam-sao-de-tre-tang-chieu-cao-7-15-cmnam-post1647508.html