Doctors can obtain clues about your health through measurements of the human body, including height. This scientific field is called anthropometry, a study of variables such as body mass index, skinfold thickness, weight, and height. Researchers also employ the average height of a large population over time to learn about the quality of life and health of a particular region. They learn about trends in height by examining and interviewing thousands of people. Results usually point to differences in the average height for girls around the world, depending on geographic characteristics and ethnicity. This article will help you have a better picture of women’s average height as well as factors that influence height growth
There has not been a profound change in the average height for American girls in the last 20 years. As of 2016, the average woman in the US is a little under 5 feet 4 inches tall (63.7 inches or 161.8 centimeters). The average weight is 170.6 pounds. In addition, weight is found to be increasing at a faster rate than height.
Research shows that the quality of nutrition during infancy, childhood, and adolescence is related to potential height. The study also sheds light on a link between a population’s standard of living and its height. So, what is responsible for the slow growth of Americans’ average height? Some people attribute it to issues with access to food whereas others indicate that a majority of Americans are choosing lower quality foods that contain insufficient amounts of nutrients. Some even blame it on the immigration of people from countries with shorter stature. However, which of these assumptions is true? In other words, what really are the factors that influence the height growth of a person or a whole population? Read on to find out.
What determines height?
Your genes or DNA largely determine how tall you will become. Scientists have estimated that there are nearly 700 genes responsible for your final adult height.
Despite this, how tall you will be does not entirely lie in the hand of genetics. In fact, environmental factors such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, and living environment all contribute to your height growth process. Lack of proper nutrition, inadequate sleep, no physical activities, and an unhealthy living environment can stunt your growth.
Experts have found that illness in childhood and poor nutrition, which are linked to living standards, are responsible for a population’s stunted growth. That is why the average height of the population of a certain country reflects the quality of life there.
What about the average height for a girl around the world?
Without saying how they have calculated these numbers, various unofficial sources report that the average adult height of women across the world is either 5 feet 4 inches or 5 feet 3 inches. As each country has its own sampling methods, statistics, and reports, it is extremely hard to pin down these numbers. Besides, India and China account for 18 percent of the world’s population respectively, and as a result, any overall change in the height of women in these countries could change the worldwide average height significantly.
Globally, environmental and social changes have been reflected in trends in height over the past 100 years. Unlike in the US, growth rates have not slowed down in other parts of the world. Some countries, South Korea for instance, have been experiencing quite a growth spurt over the past century.
An increase of nearly eight inches has been recorded in the average height of South Korean women. On the other hand, the average height of women in the Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu grew by less than an inch, which is the least height gain.
The tallest and shortest women in the world differ by approximately eight inches in height. Guatemala has the shortest average height for women at just under 4 feet 10 inches or 58.8 inches to be precise. It is closely followed by Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Nepal where women’s heights average around 59.4 inches. Latvia, Estonia, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, on the contrary, have the tallest women whose average height reaches 5 feet 6 inches, or 66 inches.
In addition to countries, average heights also differ from region to region. Women from South Asian countries, including Bangladesh and Nepal, are among the shortest while Central Asian (Uzbekistan and Iran) and European women are among the tallest in the world.
Now that you know the average heights of women in the US and around the world, you no longer have to wonder whether your height is considered “normal” or put questions like “Is 5’7 average height for a woman?” in the search bar.
More importantly, knowing the average height for a girl is useful in monitoring your own child’s growth. Yet, it should be noted that not everybody is going to achieve 5 feet 10 inches in height. In fact, half of the women in the US are not as tall as 5 feet 4 inches. Shorter stature does not necessarily mean that there is trouble with your child’s growth. It also does not suggest that he/she is too short or needs growth hormone.
If you still have worries, you can have your child examined by a pediatrician who can assess how well your kid is growing with growth charts. Learn more about what a growth chart is and how to use it here
What is the average height of a girl by age?
The following table below comes from a CDC chart from 2000 [1].
Age (years)
The median height (inches and centimeters)
0
21 in. (53.7 cm)
1
29 in. (74 cm)
2
33.5 in. (85 cm)
3
37.1 in. (94 cm)
4
40 in. (101.6 cm)
5
42.5 in. (107.9 cm)
6
45.5 in. (115.5 cm)
7
47.7 in. (121.1 cm)
8
50.5 in. (128.2 cm)
9
52.5 in. (133.3 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)
How to get taller as a girl?
Aside from genetics, other helpful ways are contributing to determining the height of a girl. Make sure you combine all these things well to optimize your height potential.
Get enough sleep
Everyone loves to sleep since this is the time their bodies relax, rewind, and grow. Teen girls are advised to sleep between 8 and 11 hours. That is because during sleep, the human growth hormone circulates at its peak, which might help your body grow.
Eat plenty of nutritious food
Nutrition, of course, plays a vital role in determining a person’s height. Having good nutrition that has different dietary sources of vitamins and minerals might help girls grow well. On the contrary, those who do not consume enough nutritious foods might not grow as tall. A healthy diet should be rich in calcium, protein, healthy fats, iron, and vitamin D to maximize growth potential.
Stay active
Exercising regularly helps girls stay healthy, but it might also help them get taller. Even if they continue to exercise after puberty and throughout their teen years, it might improve their height effectively. That is because being active helps enhance the release of human growth hormones. Try jumping, hanging, skipping, dancing, stretching, or anything that keeps you active enough to make muscles move for about 30 minutes daily.
Practice good posture
Practicing good posture helps maintain the correct space between the vertebrae, making you appear taller.
How to stand with good posture?
Keep your shoulders back
Keep your head level and in line with your body
Put your feet shoulder-width apart, and not lock them
Pull your belly toward your spine
Allow your arms to hang naturally
How to sit with good posture?
Adjust the chair height until your thighs are parallel to the floor
Place your feet flat on the floor, and not cross them
Put a pillow or towel to support your lower back
Let your shoulders rest comfortably
Dressing wisely
If you want to look tall and slim, you should opt for darker shades like blue, black, or red for your clothing. Clothes with vertical stripes also make you appear taller. Or showing off your legs with mini-skirts or shorts is quite effective. What is more, wearing platform shoes or high heels is a simple way to add temporary height. But only wear them occasionally and walk carefully, or it might lead to some unexpected problems [2, 3]
Take height-increasing supplements
In some cases, supplements might help strengthen bones by providing your body with necessary nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, potassium, etc. But be careful because not all the supplements might support your height. Avoid those that claim to lead to growth in adulthood because once the growth plate closes, there is no way to add height. It is best to talk to your doctor to find suitable supplements and take them during your growing years.
In a nutshell, to give your children the best chance of reaching their maximum height potential, you should take care of environmental factors that affect height. Especially, try to ensure that your daily meal is filled with essential nutrients and stay away from junk food or soft drinks. Besides, a healthy lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise or playing sports, a clean living environment, and enough sleep will also make a tremendous contribution to your height growth. Keep in mind that the average height for a girl should only be used to monitor the living conditions and general health of a population, not a judgment of an individual.
This article is shared by expert Joybauer – the admin of the website Howtogrowtaller.com, who has many years of experience working in the field of height growth.
Joy Bauer is a renowned physician and nutrition expert who has dedicated her career to helping people live healthier, happier lives. With over two decades of experience in the field of health and wellness, Dr. Bauer has become one of the most trusted voices in the industry.
One of Dr. Bauer’s areas of expertise is in the field of height growth. She has worked with numerous patients over the years who were looking to increase their height naturally, and has developed a range of effective strategies and techniques to help them achieve their goals. Dr. Bauer firmly believes that a healthy diet and lifestyle are essential for optimal growth and development. She works closely with her patients to develop personalized nutrition plans that are tailored to their unique needs and goals, incorporating nutrient-dense foods and supplements that support healthy bone growth and development.
In addition to her work in height growth, Dr. Bauer is also a leading expert in weight loss, disease prevention, and overall wellness. She is a regular contributor to popular media outlets such as The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, and Good Morning America, sharing her expertise with a wide audience.
If you’re seeking a passionate physician committed to helping you live your best life, look no further than Dr. Joy Bauer. With her expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence, she is the ideal partner for anyone striving to achieve their health and wellness goals.
The website HowToGrowTaller was created to provide effective guidance and support to individuals seeking to increase their height naturally. Dr. Joy Bauer recognized that many people feel self-conscious or insecure about their height, and that there is a great deal of misinformation surrounding natural height growth.
With HowToGrowTaller, Dr. Bauer aimed to create a comprehensive resource that would equip individuals with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to achieve their height goals. The website offers a wide range of resources, including nutrition plans, exercise routines, and other proven strategies designed to support healthy growth and development.
One of the key advantages of HowToGrowTaller is that it serves as a one-stop-shop for all things related to height growth. Instead of spending countless hours researching different strategies and techniques, individuals can access everything they need in one convenient location.
The overarching goal of HowToGrowTaller is to help individuals feel more confident and empowered in their bodies. By providing them with the resources and support they need to grow taller naturally, Dr. Bauer hopes to help people achieve their height goals and improve their overall quality of life.
Education & Training Fellowship: Pediatric Psychology – Nemours Children’s Clinic – Jacksonville, 2003 Internship: Child Psychology – University of Florida, 2002 Board Certifications: American Board of Professional Psychology
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