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ARE YOU AWARE ABOUT MYTHS AND FACTS REGARDING INCREASE IN HIEGHT OF YOUR CHILDREN

PATTERN OF HEIGHT INCREASE

1. Children in the preschool and preteen age generally grow by 2-3 inches on an average in a year. Girls generally attain puberty that is physical maturity between 9-13 years of age. The growth spurt occurs between 10 and 14 years old. They just grow 1 to 2 additional inches in a year or two after getting their first period. This is when they reach their adult height. Most girls reach their adult height by age 14 or 15. 
2. In general, boys begin puberty between the ages of 10 and 13 years old and experience growth spurts between 12 and 15 years old. This means their biggest growth spurt happens about two years after it does with girls. This also indicates that during this period when the growth spurt occurs naturally it is very important that exercises, nutrition and, sleep should be emphasized for the normal production of Growth Hormone which is responsible for increasing height. 
3. A large increase in bone mass occurs during childhood and puberty via endochondral bone formation. A gradual increase in bone mass is then seen until peak bone mass is reached at 20–30 years of age. Subsequently, bone mass decreases with an accelerated bone loss seen in females after menopause. 
4. Bone remodelling is regulated by a balance between bone resorption and bone formation. The bones are continuously changing which means that new bone is formed and old bone is broken down. When you're young, the body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone, and your bone mass increases. After that, bone remodelling continues, but after the age of 30 years the new bone formation becomes slow and bone mass decreases.
   
   

MYTHS ABOUT AGE TILL WHICH HEIGHT INCREASES

Height generally increases until the fusion of growth plate occurs. Generally in girls growth speed trails off to zero at about 15-16years of age, however, in males, the height can continue to increase up to 18-19 years, sometimes even twenty years. So even after taking good nutrition, the height won’t increase once the growth plates are fused. It’s a MYTH that height can increase after 20 years. So once Puberty is attained, children should be encouraged to sleep on time, eat a nutritious and balanced diet and get involved in sports to facilitate the release of growth hormone and subsequently increase height. This will help them to increase their height at an appropriate pace and correct age.