How Tall Will I Be?

Height cannot be controlled in as many ways as weight, yet people are still seriously interested in their maximum height potential. A wide variety of factors influence the potential and future height of any individual. Predicting the exact height that anyone is going to be is simply impossible, but it's good to remember that every height has its own advantages.

How tall you will be depends at least partially on your gender. Men are, and have historically been, taller than women. The numbers for the average height of a person born in the United States are fairly surprising, as they are lower than many would guess. Today, the average height of men is 5 feet 9 1/2 inches; the average height of women is 5 feet 4 inches. These numbers are standard for individuals of 20 years of age and older. Remember, though, that these are averages. There are women who are well over 6 feet tall, and men who barely make the 5 foot mark.

Race and Age

There are also subtle differences in the statistics when race and age are taken into consideration. Generally, by 20 years of age, people have reached their full adult height. However, taking all individuals over 20 into consideration often changes the results, since as early as the age of 35, people begin to shrink. What follows is a list of heights based on both factors:

• Male: 5 feet 10, female: 5 feet 4 1/2 inches (Americans, 20-29)
• Male: 5 feet 10 1/2 inches, female: 5 feet 4 1/2 inches (White Americans, 20-39)
• Male: 5 feet 10 inches, female: 5 feet 4 1/2 inches (Black Americans, 20-39)
• Male: 5 feet 7 inches, female: 5 feet 2 1/2 inches (Mexican-Americans, 20-39)

Although the heights are extremely similiar, when only younger people are taken into account, the average height is higher. White and black Americans are relatively the same; however, Mexican-Americans are, on average, significantly shorter.

Country of Origin

If you were born in a different place, your height could be significantly different than your American born peers. In the Dinaric Alps, men average 6 feet and 1 inch, while women average 5 feet 7 1/2 inches. On the other end of the spectrum, men from Indonesia average 5 feet 2 inches, and women average 4 feet 10 inches. Some of the height averages from other countries are:

• Germany-male: 5 feet 11 1/2 inches, female: 5 feet 5 1/2 inches
• Italy-male: 5 feet 9 1/2 inches, female: 5 feet 5 inches
• Colombia-male: 5 feet 7 inches, female: 5 feet 2 1/2 inches
• Thailand-male: 5 feet 6 inches, female: 5 feet 2 inches
• South Africa-male: 5 feet 6 1/2 inches, female: 5 feet 2 1/2 inches

Genetics and Hormones

Genetics significantly influence how tall a person will be. If your parents are extremely tall, there is a good chance that you will be too. Short parents may very well produce short child. However, of course, there are cases when short parents will produce a tall child, and vice versa. Children inherit genes from their parents, meaning they also inherit genes from generations back, so they may acquire some of those traits as well.

As the child grows, his or her hormones are significant factors in how tall he or she will be. If there is a problem with the hormones, the child may grow too quickly or too slowly.

Health

Maintaining adequate health will ensure that a person grows to their fullest potential. This statement does not mean that healthy people will necessarily be taller, rather healthy people will reach and maintain the height that is suitable for their body structures. Eating a healthy diet and engaging in exercise help the individual to grow. Furthermore, getting enough sleep at night is crucial to the regulation of hormones, which are key components of natural, healthy, and proper growth.