Many teenagers wonder if they can still grow taller after age 17. Growth typically slows down in the late teens, but some growth is still possible after this age. The growth plates in your bones determine how much more you will grow. At around ages 16-18 for girls and 18-21 for boys, these growth plates fuse together as part of the final maturation process. But there is still time for growth to occur before they fuse completely.
With the right nutrition, lifestyle, and treatment of any underlying conditions, you can maximize your remaining growth potential in your late teens and early 20s. While genetics largely determines your final height, you still have some control over those last couple inches.
What Determines Your Final Adult Height?
Your final adult height is primarily determined by your genetics. However, environmental factors also play an important role:
Genetics
Research suggests that 60-80% of your height is determined by genetic factors. Your biological parents’ heights can give you a rough idea of your growth potential, but you could end up taller or shorter than them. Other genetic factors like hormone health also influence your growth.
Nutrition
Consuming a healthy, balanced diet with adequate calories, protein, vitamins and minerals is essential for growth. Malnutrition can restrict growth, especially during puberty’s growth spurt.
Chronic Illnesses
Ongoing health conditions like Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease and asthma can negatively impact growth. Growth hormone deficiencies and other endocrine problems also affect height. Treating these illnesses can allow you to maximize your growth potential.
Other Factors
A few other factors influence growth including:
– Exercise – An active lifestyle improves hormone balance and posture.
– Sleep – Getting enough high-quality sleep enables growth hormone release.
– Socioeconomic status – Children in poverty may face more growth restrictions.
While you can’t change your genetics, you can optimize other growth factors in your late teens.
Growth Patterns During Puberty
Understanding the typical growth patterns of puberty provides clues on how much more you can grow after 17:
Growth Spurts
The peak growth spurt during puberty usually occurs between ages 10-14 in girls and 12-16 in boys. You grow the fastest during this stage as sex hormones increase growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. Girls typically enter puberty first.
Slowing Down
After the peak growth spurt, the rate of growth slows down significantly. You may grow 3-4 inches per year during the spurt, but this decreases to 1-2 inches per year in your late teens. Growth hormone and IGF-1 levels start to decline.
Growth Plate Fusion
Toward the end of puberty, your growth plates begin to fuse. This starts around ages 16-18 in girls and 18-21 in boys. Some growth can still occur until the plates completely ossify. Plate fusion occurs last in the long bones of the arms and legs.
Final Stages
After your growth plates fuse, you’ve reached your final adult height. Very minimal growth of less than half an inch can occur after plate fusion due to factors like compression of intervertebral discs or posture changes. But for all intents and purposes, growth stops once your plates ossify.
How Much More Can You Grow After 17?
If you haven’t quite reached the end of puberty by age 17, you may still have some growth left. Here’s an overview of expectations for late adolescent growth:
For Girls
– Age 17: Typically reached final adult height.
– May grow up to 2 more inches after age 17 before fusion completes.
– Growth plates fuse 16-18 years old on average.
For Boys
– Age 17: Still in puberty with open growth plates.
– May grow 3-5 more inches after age 17 until early 20s.
– Growth plates fuse 18-21 years old on average.
However, if you started puberty late or have a health condition impacting growth, you may grow more than average after 17 since your plates fuse later. Talk to your doctor about your growth trajectory.
Factors That Maximize Growth Potential
While you can’t increase your genetically pre-programmed height, you can help maximize your growth potential before your plates fuse. Here are some tips:
Eat a Nutritious Diet
Make sure you get sufficient calories, protein, vitamins and minerals for your age and activity level. This fuels the biosynthesis of growth factors during puberty. aim for 20-30% of calories from protein sources like meat, eggs, dairy and beans.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Growth hormone is secreted at night during deep sleep stages. Get 8-11 hours of high-quality sleep per night for optimal hormone balance and growth. Follow good sleep hygiene practices like limiting screens before bed.
Exercise and Play Sports
Physical activity promotes growth plate health and growth hormone release. Aim for regular exercise like sports, running, swimming, strength training, etc. for at least 1 hour per day. But avoid overtraining that stresses the body.
Minimize Stress
Chronic stress and elevated cortisol can restrict growth and delay puberty. Practice stress management techniques and get emotional support if needed. Some relaxation practices to try include yoga, deep breathing and meditation.
Get Regular Checkups
See your pediatrician for well visits 1-2 times per year. They can track your growth, assess your puberty status and check for any underlying growth-restricting health conditions. Early treatment of problems can help maximize your height.
Consider Growth Hormone Therapy
If you have a diagnosed growth hormone deficiency or disorder delaying puberty/growth, growth hormone injections or other hormone treatments can add several inches before your growth plates close. But treatment should begin several years before plate fusion for optimal effectiveness.
Growth After 17 for Boys vs. Girls
Due to differences in the timing of puberty between genders, growth potential after 17 varies:
Girls
– Typically complete puberty by 15-17 years old.
– Have often reached final adult height by 17.
– May continue growing 1-2 more inches if plates aren’t fused yet.
– Growth is largely complete once menstruation begins.
Boys
– Enter puberty later than girls, around ages 12-14 on average.
– Are often still growing significantly at age 17.
– Can grow several more inches until growth plates fuse in early 20s.
– Testosterone fuels the late stages of the male growth spurt.
This table summarizes the key differences:
| Gender | Growth After 17 |
|---|---|
| Girls | Unlikely to grow much taller, maybe 1-2 inches max |
| Boys | Can grow 3-5 inches taller until early 20s |
While each person’s puberty and growth pattern is unique, girls generally have less potential for significant growth after age 17 compared to boys still in their late pubertal stages.
How to Maximize Growth After 17
If you are still hoping to grow taller after 17, here are some tips that may help:
Monitor Your Diet
Ensure you are eating enough calories and protein for your age, sex, and activity level to support growth. Get sufficient amounts of vitamins D, C, and B-complex and minerals like zinc and calcium. If needed, take a balanced multivitamin.
Avoid Growth-Limiting Habits
Smoking, drinking alcohol excessively and using certain drugs can restrict your remaining growth potential. These habits impair hormone balance and growth plate health.
Get Checked for Health Conditions
See your doctor for any symptoms possibly related to a growth-inhibiting illness. This includes digestive issues, severe asthma, headaches, excessive fatigue or thyroid changes. Treating underlying problems can allow you to grow taller.
Practice Good Posture
Slouching compresses the spine, taking away precious inches. Remind yourself to stand up straight throughout the day to elongate your back. Proper posture also promotes growth plate health.
Consider Prescription Hormone Therapy
If you have delayed puberty or a legitimate growth hormone deficiency, prescribed hormone replacement can add a couple inches before your plates close under an endocrinologist’s supervision.
Be Patient and Accepting
Growing taller after 17 requires diligence, healthy habits and likely some luck with your genes. If you’ve stopped growing, focus on accepting and loving yourself at your current height. Confidence comes from within.
When to See a Doctor About Growth Issues
Consult your pediatrician or endocrinologist if you have any concerns about your growth and puberty, such as:
– No signs of puberty by age 14 (boys) or 15 (girls)
– Severely delayed puberty and growth spurt
– Significantly shorter height than peers
– Much younger bone age than chronological age
– Symptoms of an underlying growth-inhibiting health condition
– Strong family history of growth disorders
Blood tests, X-rays of the wrist and hand to assess bone age, or MRI of the pituitary gland may be ordered to help diagnose the cause of growth and puberty problems. Hormone therapy or other treatments can often help those with a diagnosed growth disorder achieve a more normal adult height.
Factors That Can Limit Growth Potential
While optimizing nutrition, activity levels, sleep and health are beneficial, some factors unfortunately can diminish your growth potential:
Genetic Potential
If your biological parents are shorter, your genetics likely limit your height more strictly. But you can still maximize your potential through modifiable factors.
Medical Conditions
Chronic illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease, kidney failure, hormone problems, and genetic disorders directly impair growth. Manage these conditions for best growth.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Calorie, protein, vitamin or mineral deficiencies – whether from malnutrition or conditions like celiac disease – restrict the nutrients needed for growth.
Medications
Certain prescription drugs like steroids (for asthma, arthritis, etc.) can limit growth velocity, especially with long-term use.
Late Puberty Onset
A very delayed start to puberty shortens the time you have left to grow until your plates close in your late teens/early 20s.
While you can’t change some limiting factors, focus on the aspects within your control to become your tallest possible self before growth stops.
Conclusion
While much of your final adult height is determined by genetics, you may still grow taller after age 17 before your growth plates fuse. Boys tend to have more remaining growth potential than girls in the late teens.
With healthy lifestyle habits, proper treatment of medical conditions, and a little luck in the genetic lottery, you can gain those last couple inches if your plates haven’t closed yet. Monitor your diet, activity levels, sleep and stress. And see your doctor for any concerns about your growth and development – there may still be time to intervene.
Stay focused on maximizing your health and self-confidence regardless of height. While being tall has some advantages, there are also upsides to being shorter or average height. Make the most of the height you were meant to be!