How to Increase Your Height: Is There Anything I Can Do?
Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — By Natalie Silver — Updated on Jul 25, 2022
How to increase height
Other factors
Growth stunting factors
Takeaway
Genes largely determine your height. You may get taller by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, staying active, and having good posture, but there is no guarantee.
Several factors contribute to your overall height. It’s thought that genetic factors account for about 80% of your final height. Certain environmental factors, such as nutrition and exercise, typically account for the remaining percentage.
After age 2, most children grow at a steady rate of around 2.5 inches every year. Once puberty hits, you may grow even faster. However, everyone grows at a different pace.
For girls, this growth spurt typically begins by the beginning of the teenage years. Boys may not experience this sudden increase in height until a couple years into their teens.
You generally stop growing taller after you go through puberty. This means that as an adult, you are unlikely to increase your height.
However, there are certain things that you can do throughout adolescence to ensure that you’re maximizing your potential for growth. You should continue these as an adult to promote overall well-being and retain your height.