The Average Height of Men and Women Over Time

Height is a trait that varies both among individuals and across generations. In general, each successive generation tends to be taller than the previous one, due to a range of environmental and genetic factors.

While genetics certainly play a role in determining height, factors such as nutrition, health, climate, and urbanization can also impact growth during childhood and adolescence. As a result, there can be significant variation in height among individuals within the same age group.

If you’re curious about your own height and how it compares to others in your age group, there are a variety of resources available online to help you track your growth and development. By staying informed about your height and other important health metrics, you can help to ensure that you’re giving your body the support it needs to thrive. So keep scrolling to uncover more fascinating information about height and its impact on overall health and wellbeing.

How to calculate an average height by age?

Average human heights are calculated via crucial statistics collected by national health agencies. These agencies gather standing heights at the age of two and measure individuals to the closest 0.1 cm with a digital stadiometer [1].

how-to-calculate-an-average-height-by-age

Unlike healthcare experts, measuring your height without the help of others is a piece of cake. By following our tips below, you can measure by yourself.

  • Firstly, you need to use a flat and straight object like a book or a ruler.
  • Then stand with your feet flat and keep your back straight against the wall.
  • Put the object on the top of your head and make sure it is straight and parallel with the floor.
  • Use a pencil and mark the wall where the object hits the top of your head.
  • Finally, measure from the floor to the mark.

Now you know your height, do you want to compare it with the average height chart?

Average height chart for men

Below is the average boy height for different ages, according to CDC [2].

Age (years) 50th percentile (inches and centimeters)
2 34.3 in (87.12 cm)
4 40.5 in (102.87 cm)
6 45.4 in (115.3 cm)
8 50.4 in (128 cm)
10 54.5 in (138.5 cm)
11 56.4 in (143.5 cm)
12 58.7 in (149 cm)
13 61.4 in (156 cm)
14 64.6 in (164 cm)
15 66.9 in (170 cm)
16 68.3 in (173.5 cm)
17 69.1 in (175.5 cm)
18 69.3 in (176 cm)
20 69.6 in (176.8 cm)

Average height chart for women

Next is the average girl height for different ages, according to CDC [3]. Check it now!

Age (years) 50th percentile (inches and centimeters)
2 33.5 in (86.36 cm)
4 39.6 in (100.5 cm)
6 45 in (114.3 cm)
8 50.2 in (127.5 cm)
10 54.3 in (138 cm)
11 56.7 in (144 cm)
12 59.4 in (151 cm)
13 61.8 in (157 cm)
14 63.2 in (160.5 cm)
15 63.8 in (162 cm)
16 64 in (162.5 cm)
17 64 in (163 cm)
18 64 in (163 cm)
20 64.2 in (163.3 cm)

How to acquire the average height by age?

Scientists reckon that the main factor affecting an individual’s height is DNA. That means tall parents tend to have children who also grow up tall.

People often grow until they are 18 years old. Before then, a range of different factors might influence how tall they become. Let’s show you some ways to help increase growth during childhood and puberty.

Ensuring good nutrition

Nutrition is a critical factor in supporting healthy growth and development, particularly during childhood and adolescence. Children who do not receive adequate nutrition may not reach their full height potential.

To ensure optimal growth, nutritionists advise children and young people to consume a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods like meat, seafood, poultry, legumes, eggs, yogurt, milk, soybeans, salmon, cheese, nuts, and seeds. These foods are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, protein, and calcium, which are vital for bone health and growth.

For pregnant women, a balanced diet is also crucial for promoting healthy bone growth and development in the fetus. Foods such as fruits, beans, nuts, oranges, pasteurized dairy products, green vegetables, fish, and meat can all contribute to the healthy development of bones in the growing fetus.

By focusing on a diet that is rich in essential nutrients, individuals can support their overall health and wellbeing, and help to promote healthy growth and development throughout all stages of life [4].

Getting regular exercises

Regular exercise is an essential component of healthy growth and development, as it helps to strengthen muscle tissues and bones, and promotes the production of human growth hormone (HGH).

Studies have shown that certain types of exercise, such as basketball, football, swimming, jogging, yoga, and soccer, can be particularly effective at improving muscle strength, enhancing bone health, and promoting overall health and wellbeing. By incorporating these exercises into a regular workout routine, individuals can help to support healthy growth and development throughout all stages of life.

In addition to promoting physical health, exercise has also been shown to have a range of mental health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood, and promoting overall wellbeing. By making exercise a regular part of your routine, you can support your body and mind, and help to promote healthy growth and development in all aspects of your life.

Getting enough sleep

Sleep encourages growth and development because when you sleep, your body releases hormones it needs to grow. It is suggested that:

  • Newborns up to 3 months old: 14-17 hours of sleep per day
  • Infants from 3 to11 months old: 12-17 hours
  • Toddlers from 1 to 2 years old: 11-14 hours
  • Young kids from 3 to 5 years old: 10-13 hours
  • Children from 6 to 13 years old: 9-11 hours
  • Teens from 14 to17 years old: 8-10 hours
  • Adults from 18 to 64 years old: 7-9 hours
  • Older adults from 65 years old: 7-8 hours

In case you do not get enough sleep over a long time, it might restrain healthy growth, cause other health issues, and make learning, focusing, and participating in life become harder.

Getting some sun

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in supporting healthy growth and development, particularly when it comes to bone health. While it is possible to obtain vitamin D from food sources, such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified dairy products, sunlight remains the best source of this important nutrient.

Spending just 5-15 minutes in direct sunlight a few times a week can help to increase vitamin D levels in the body. It’s important to make sure that you are exposing your face and arms to the sun during this time, as these areas are particularly effective at absorbing vitamin D. However, if you are spending more than 15 minutes outside, it’s important to use sunscreen to protect your skin from damage.

By making sure that you are getting enough vitamin D, either through sunlight or dietary sources, you can help to support healthy bone development, immune function, and overall wellbeing. So the next time you’re enjoying a sunny day, take a few minutes to bask in the sunlight and support your body’s health.

Reducing sugar intake

Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for supporting healthy growth and development, particularly when it comes to achieving optimal height. However, consuming excessive amounts of sugar can have negative effects on both overall health and the ability to obtain proper nutrition.

When large amounts of sugar are added to the diet, there is less room for nutrient-dense foods that are essential for supporting healthy growth and development. Without proper nutrition, it can be difficult to achieve optimal height, and it can also lead to a range of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

To ensure that you are obtaining the proper nutrients for healthy growth and development, it’s important to limit sugar intake to less than 25 grams per day. Additionally, it’s important to replace high-sugar foods with healthier options that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, without adding unnecessary calories to the diet.

By focusing on a healthy diet that is low in sugar and rich in nutrient-dense foods, individuals can help to support their overall health and wellbeing, and promote healthy growth and development throughout all stages of life.

Controlling your body weight

Gaining weight to the point of obesity affects your height. When your weight increases, it will impact your bone structure and make it weakened, thereby leading to height loss. That’s why maintaining an ideal body weight is vital for reducing less growth in your height.

controlling-your-body-weight

Avoiding consuming too many salty foods

While salt is an important nutrient for the body, consuming excessive amounts can have negative effects on bone health. When salt intake is too high, the body may begin to excrete more calcium, resulting in calcium loss.

Over time, this can lead to bone demineralization, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions. To support healthy bone development and minimize the risk of these conditions, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of salt intake, and limit intake of high-sodium foods.

By focusing on a balanced diet that is rich in essential nutrients, individuals can help to support their overall health and wellbeing, and promote healthy growth and development throughout all stages of life. This can include incorporating a range of calcium-rich foods into the diet, as well as limiting salt intake to recommended levels.

Dressing up smartly

While genetics play a major role in determining height, there are a number of fashion tips that can help create the illusion of a taller stature. By selecting the right clothes and accessories, individuals can enhance their appearance and create a more elongated silhouette.

Some tips for creating the illusion of height include wearing high-waisted pants, opting for heels or shoe insoles, wearing single-color outfits, choosing short and fitted jackets, pairing a crop top with a skirt, and incorporating vertical stripes into your wardrobe. By selecting clothing that elongates the body and draws the eye upwards, it’s possible to create a more balanced, proportionate appearance, even if you’re not naturally tall.

In addition to clothing choices, maintaining good posture can also play a role in creating the illusion of height. By standing up straight and pulling the shoulders back, individuals can elongate their torso and create a taller, more confident appearance. With a few simple fashion and posture tips, it’s possible to enhance your appearance and create a more elongated, proportionate silhouette.

Restricting stress

Long-term stress can have negative effects on overall health and wellbeing, and may even impact physical development and growth. When stress levels are high, the body may experience muscle tension in the back and shoulders, which can contribute to a shorter stature.

Additionally, stress can also trigger the release of certain hormones that may interfere with normal growth and development, potentially leading to permanent stunting of growth. To minimize the negative effects of stress on physical development, it’s important to develop healthy stress-management strategies and prioritize self-care.

This may include activities such as exercise, meditation, deep breathing, or seeking support from a mental health professional. By taking steps to manage stress levels and promote overall wellbeing, individuals can support healthy growth and development, and minimize the risk of permanent growth-related issues.

Taking supplements with caution

There are some cases where using supplements might be suitable for increasing height in children or preventing shrinking in older adults. These are beneficial to support your body with the essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which are good for bone health and growth. But always remember to use the right dose and regularly at a certain time. Importantly, you need to combine these pills with a healthy lifestyle as mentioned above to receive the desired outcome.

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