What factors affect growth and development in men? When do boys stop growing tall after the puberty growth spurt?
If you are not sure when your growth curve is going to stop, this post will help you understand the height progression curve and when it ends.
How many growth spurts do boys have?
The endocrine and nervous systems are the major mediators of growth. The hypothalamus at the base of the brain contains nerve cells that produce regulatory hormones that affect many aspects of growth, reproductive development, and metabolism.
From the age 4 until adolescent growth spurt, the average rate of growth for boys is about 6-7cm/year. At teenage growth spurt, everything grows in little spurts. However, if we have to be considerate of height only, then the majority of boys have 2 main growth spurts with smaller growth spurts in between.
Is there a male height growth age limit?
Usually, males grow very fast between the ages of 10-16, and during this growth Spurt, the increase in height can be as much as 12 inches (25 cm).
After crossing 16 years, the increase in high is slow, and the boy will stop growing between the ages of 18 to 20. This is the age whereby the majority of boys reach their final growth.
However, there are a few cases where boys continue to grow till 21 years or even 25 years.
When do boys stop growing:
Growth can be measured in different ways. Different parts of the body grow in a different way for both women and men. Here’s more on different parts of the body in young males starting with the feet and legs.
For feet
Usually, the feet stop growing a few years after puberty. For example, in girls, the average age of feet to stop growing is around 14 years, while in boys, it is about 16 years. However, the final growths of feet plates occur between 18 years to 20 years of age.
Your feet will technically stop growing when you are a teenager, but they will continue to change size throughout adulthood life.
Penis
Since puberty ends at different ages for many people, there is no definite age at which the penis will have undergone complete growth. Generally, puberty can take up to 4 years, and during this stage:
- The penis and testicles start to grow in size at the beginning of puberty.
- The genitals continue to grow for a further 1 year.
- Towards the end of puberty, the growth of the penis and other genital parts should be complete.
Hair Growth
Pubic hair grows during the puberty stage. As stated earlier puberty stage may last up to 4 years. Pubic hair is usually the first hairs on the body to grow, then underarm hair after about a year. Facial hair and other body hair will usually grow after around 2 years of puberty. The growth of hair on the various body parts of boys usually stops at the end of puberty.
Factors that might impair growth rates
- Illnesses
- Genetic conditions
- The use of medications, such as corticosteroids, can limit growth.
- Hormonal imbalance
- Diet
- Environment
Signs you have stopped growing physically
- Completion of puberty
According to NHS Choices, an online health resource, after the completion of puberty, physical changes such as facial and underarm hair, voice changes, and growth of the genitals, the rapid growth period is usually over. And this is a sign that you have stopped growing physically.
- Skeletal Maturity
Skeletal maturity can be determined with the help of an X-ray. Hand, leg, or wrist X-ray can show whether the growth plates in the hands and wrist have fused. This factor is the one that will indicate whether the bones will continue to lengthen or not. If the X-ray reveals that the growth plate is closed, this could then be interpreted that you have your full height.
Signs of Teenage Growth Spurts
Clothes Getting Smaller
Among other many signs, the first observable sign of growth spurts in your teen’s clothes getting smaller or even not fit him at all. In both boys and girls, you will observe trousers and dresses appearing tighter around the waist.
Shoes not fitting at all
When you begin to receive complaints from your kid that the shoes you bought him a couple of months ago have become tight, just know the kid has undergone a growth spurt. During this growth spurt period, you as a parent, you will always be buying new shoes after a couple of months.
Observable Bigger Joints and Bones
During the growth spurt period, your child will experience an increase in the length of bones. You will observe bigger joints and bones of elbows, knees, and shoulder joints of your child protruding out from under his clothes. Also, in girls, you will observe the widening of the hips.
Strong Body Odor
If you notice that your child has started having a strong odor, it is a sign of a growth spurt. The scent is usually due to active oil and sweat glands, and in many cases, a cold bath and use of deodorant is the best way of getting rid of the odor.
Increased Appetite
As your teenager continues to increase in body size and height, he requires more energy and proteins to keep up with the developing changes in the body. All of these sudden changes result in increased appetite in your kid’s appetite. The kid will become gluttonous and will want to eat after every hour without showing any sign of weight increase.
Voice Changes
Voice changes in boy and Girls is also a sign of a growth spurt. In many cases, the kid’s voice will turn out to be soft and gruff. Also, girls experience changes in the voice, but if the parent is not keen, he may never notice it.
Your child will Sleep Longer Hours
Various studies have indicated that teenagers require more sleep during the growth spurt phase because sleep helps their body perfume functions needed for growth.
Skin-Pimples
During the growth spurt phase, you will begin to see changes in your child’s skin. For example, you will notice the break-out of pimples and acne on his or her skin. This is usually due to the over-production of hormones that activate the sebaceous glands in the skin.
Factors that affect growth and development
Genetics
Hereditary factors generally influence growth and development in men because it’s the genes that carry information about how a person should grow and develop. Genes determine a person’s physical and behavioral developments that normally occur throughout the entire life. Examples include things such as height, weight, facial features, intelligence, breast size, hip size, and hair and eye color.
Sex
Individual sex orientation is a crucial factor that influences growth and development in men. Generally, there is usually a substantial observable difference in the growth and development of young boys and young girls, especially during the teenage period. Often the physical growth of boys is slower than that of girls. Generally, the body structure and growth of boys is different from that of girls.
Race
Various studies have shown that race, to a greater extent, influences growth and development in people. Race influences weight, color, and height and body structural build-up of an individual. An individual’s body development and growth show a difference with varied cultural groups.
For example, a child of the black race will be black, their hair color, facial structure, and eye color. Growth spurts in black people are slower than those of white people.
Hormones
Hormones are usually regarded as growth supporting components because they play an essential role in regulating the process of growth and development. There are many endocrine glands within our body system. When these hormones are directly released into the bloodstream, they can lower the activity of body organs such as growth.
Nutrition
Growth and development have a direct relation to nutrition. During different phases of growth and development, the body requires varying quantities of calories for normal growth. In many cases, the cause of slow growth in children is malnourishment. There are 9 amino acids, which are very crucial for the growth and development of an individual, in which case the absence of any one of them will result in stunted growth.
Also, other mineral elements are essential in facilitating growth, and some of them include phosphorous, zinc, iodine, calcium, and vitamins. These mineral elements can only be available in the body through proper nutrition.
Social-Economic factors
For a very long time, it has been observed that children from different socio-economic levels vary in average size at all ages.
Children from upper families grow faster than those from lower social, economic levels because of regular meals, sleep, and exercise. Also, in families with high-level income, some children usually do not undergo proper nutrition, and this affects their growth and development.
Tips to ensure optimal growth after puberty
Here are easy 7 tips on how to get taller after puberty.
Eat Foods Rich in Nutrients
Eating a balanced diet is the best way stimulating the growth hormones in your body and to rejuvenate all the lost cells. A balanced diet will contain the following vitamins and minerals, among others:
- Calcium
- Iron and proteins
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B1
- Zinc
- Phosphorus
Exercise
Simple muscle exercises are essential for an increase in height. This is one of the best ways that can help one to grow faster after puberty. Some of the muscle stretching exercises includes yoga, standing on toes, and skipping.
Get Enough Sleep
Allowing a teenager to have at least 8 hours of sleep will effectively boost their growth. This is because many of the hormones that stimulate growth are produced when the body is asleep. Also, sleep ensures that all the tissues are regenerated and replaced.
Maintain your BMI
Ensuring your weight is within the range which your body can support contributes to a significant increase in growth. In many cases, obesity contributes to adverse effects on the body, such as being a hindrance to height growth.
Drink more water
Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water every day to activate your metabolism such as flushing out toxins from the body. This will enhance faster growth after puberty.
Keep off from harmful factors which can hinder growth and development
You need to keep off from certain harmful factors that hinder growth and development; such factors or inhibitors include alcohol and drugs. These two inhibitors interfere with normal growth.
Avoid eating too much food
Avoid eating too much food, as these slow the digestion process and makes it difficult for your body to assimilate the necessary nutrients that are necessary for growth.
Boosting your immunity
The body’s immune system plays an important role in the development and growth process. A strong immune system blocks diseases from interfering or slowing down the growth process.
Maintain a good posture always
Maintaining a slouching posture regularly inhibits your height growth by putting too much pressure on the spinal cord. Maintaining a straight posture with your head and spine contributes effectively towards increasing your height.
Understanding factors other than genetics that determine your height
Science has shown that genetics determine 70% to 80% of a person’s height. However, the remaining percentage is determined by factors other than genetics, and such factors include diet, lifestyle, and other external factors.
