Predicting adult height

[Anonymous]

I’m curious how much does nutrition affect height. Typical American diet v organic spinach and fish and lentils.

[Anonymous]

It is not predictable at all, the averages you mention, particular in boys. Many grow late and you can't tell if they are eating enough or not.
If anything I would say that being tall early is a very poor predictor of heights in boys, in fact most that are very tall in the eight grade end up the shortest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious how much does nutrition affect height. Typical American diet v organic spinach and fish and lentils.

I am curious about the nutritional component as well.

I am the poster with the 5'6" father and two brothers who are 6'2" and 6'3".

My 6'2" brother is much older than my 6'3" brother. The older brother grew up in a third world country and his diet was similar to my dad's growing up (lots of beans, vegetables, fish, very little meat, little to no dairy after toddlerhood, etc). He is in his 40s and is still 6'2" tall.

My 6'3" brother moved to the U.S at age 11 and started eating the typical American diet (lots of dairy products, lots of red meat, chicken etc).They look like twins in terms of physical features, except for the younger one being muscular while the one back home is lean. I guess the difference between the diet might have contributed to the 1 inch height difference. But the difference in the muscular composition is much more noticeable than the height difference( I don't think the older brother could build as much muscle as the younger one even if he worked out everyday). Perhaps they would have been taller if they moved here as babies? But I am skeptical about that- it would have been ridiculous given my parents' heights. And they are the some of the tallest men in our extended family including generations that were born and raised here.

My sisters and I were adults before we moved here. So our heights of 5'8", 5'8" and 5'4" were already set before we moved. We have adult first cousins who were born here who are 5'9" and whose parents, born and raised in third world countries, are a little taller than mine. So it looks like it's only an 1 inch difference when the American diet comes into play. So I am not sure that the nutrition would affect much in one generation.

If compounded over generations, then there would possibly be a drastic difference.

[Anonymous]

My 98th percentile at birth kid is almost 19 and barely 5’5” while her below 50th percentile sister is 15 and 5’7”. DH and I are 6’1” and 5’6” , and early estimates said both kids would be taller than they currently are (although the younger one is still growing and might get another inch or so).

[Anonymous]

I was always tall as a kid (99th percentile) until around 5th grade. Then slowed down and stopped growing by age 12. I am 5'3'' (female), but when I was in early elementary the pediatrician told my mom I'd be around 5'6''. My father is 5'9'' and mom is 5'3'' so my true height makes sense based on my parents' heights but did not follow the growth curve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not predictable at all, the averages you mention, particular in boys. Many grow late and you can't tell if they are eating enough or not.
If anything I would say that being tall early is a very poor predictor of heights in boys, in fact most that are very tall in the eight grade end up the shortest.

Sure. A “very tall” eighth grader would probably be 6 foot or more. People 6 feet or more, aren’t going to end up as the “shortest” at anything unless you’re discussing the NBA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was always tall as a kid (99th percentile) until around 5th grade. Then slowed down and stopped growing by age 12. I am 5'3'' (female), but when I was in early elementary the pediatrician told my mom I'd be around 5'6''. My father is 5'9'' and mom is 5'3'' so my true height makes sense based on my parents' heights but did not follow the growth curve.

Very similar for me, but I'm 5'5. Parents are 5'4 and 6'2 and I was predicted to be about 5'8. Got my period at 12 and didn't grow an inch after that, which is apparently typical for women in my family. My mother' brothers are both over 6 feet and I suspect if my parents had had a son he would have been tallish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have six children, four sons and two daughters (5 are adults).Three sons from my first marriage (I am 5' 3" according to the military, my first husband is 5'10".) Our sons are 6'3", 5"11", and 5' 7".
My second husband is 5'7". One daughter is 5' 2" (also has scoliosis), the other is 5' 1" with a petite build. My youngest will be 17 this month, and he's already past 5' 8" and is still growing. His main goal in life was to be as tall as his oldest brother, but I told him recently he's not going to make it.

That is such a big difference between your tallest and shortest sons with your first husband! How does that happen? Crazy.

[Anonymous]

The prediction methods are just guesses. My parents were told I was supposed to be 6' 2" based on my height at age 2. Slightly off, as I'm 5' 5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not predictable at all, the averages you mention, particular in boys. Many grow late and you can't tell if they are eating enough or not.
If anything I would say that being tall early is a very poor predictor of heights in boys, in fact most that are very tall in the eight grade end up the shortest.

Sure. A “very tall” eighth grader would probably be 6 foot or more. People 6 feet or more, aren’t going to end up as the “shortest” at anything unless you’re discussing the NBA.

Yeah, that poster’s comment would make some sense if talking about very tall 5th graders, but our MS basketball team this year had several 8th graders who were over 6’5”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I put in only our heights, it always says our kid should end up shorter than both of us. That doesn't make any sense, does it?

Is your kid a girl?

Because if so, and mom's height percentile is higher than dad's, even if Dad is taller than mom, then yes.

[Anonymous]

I am 5’6” and DH is 6’3”

DD is 18 and 5’9”

DS is just starting his growth spurt at 16 and is already 6’3” and predicted to be 6’5”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 98th percentile at birth kid is almost 19 and barely 5’5” while her below 50th percentile sister is 15 and 5’7”. DH and I are 6’1” and 5’6” , and early estimates said both kids would be taller than they currently are (although the younger one is still growing and might get another inch or so).

At birth length has a lot to do with how big you are and how large your uterus is. Length at birth isn’t a barometer anyone uses for this reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Accurate for my kids.

The two men I know who are significantly taller than average cannot stop talking about it. Like, one of them even refers to his height as his anonymous name in social media posts. I am not sure how that one will turn out because he's still young, but the other one treats his height the cornerstone of his identity. Talk to him for 15 minutes and he will mention his height. It's tedious.

How funny! Dude—we can see that you’re tall. It’s not an accomplishment.

dp.. clearly that person had some height insecurity when they were younger, and has very little self esteem even now. This is a dumb thing to focus on. Your height has zero to do with *you*. It's mostly your genes, and nothing you accomplished.

My young teen son is very tall for his age and it seems like the first thing people - both adults and kids- say to him. He finds that tedious too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP again, I paid close attention to their nutrition during their growing years, especially the one who was predicted to be 5’11” who is now 6’3.25”

There is no way you made four inches of difference by making sure they ate organic spinach or whatever. That would be the difference between a famine and enough calories.

Agree. Lol.