It's unlikely to grow a full 7 cm (about 2.75 inches) after 17, as most people's growth plates close between 14-19, but some late bloomers might gain a little, especially if they started puberty late, though significant growth is rare, requiring a doctor to check growth plates for potential extension, but a healthy lifestyle (sleep, nutrition, exercise) supports natural growth potential.
It is completely possible for a person to grow 2 more inches after 17. Every person grows at a different rate, and have growth spurts anywhere in the teen years. The male height growth tends to completely stop around the age of 24 although slows down long before that while the female stops growing around the age of 21.
Height almost never increases after the age of 18:
Even with a healthy diet, the height of most people will not increase after the age of 18 to 20. The reason why height stops increasing is because the bones, specifically the growth plates in the bones, stop being active.
It is possible but not guaranteed. At 17, some males still have open growth plates and can grow several centimeters more. If growth plates have closed, further natural height increase is unlikely.
If there are no signs of puberty by 14 years, then puberty is delayed and further assessment is indicated. From 14-17 years most boys will be either 'In puberty' or 'Completing puberty'. After 17 years boys will usually be 'Completing puberty'.
The upper age limit for starting GH therapy is generally determined by the status of the growth plates (epiphyses) in the bones. Once these plates close—typically around age 14 in girls and 16 in boys—further height increase is not possible.
Based on CDC data, the average height for 17-year-old boys is around 5 feet 9 inches (175 centimeters). However, keep in mind that there is a wide range of normal growth, and individual growth patterns can vary.
Taking good care of yourself — eating well, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest — is the best way to stay healthy and help your body reach its natural potential. There's no magic pill for increasing height. In fact, your genes are the major determinant of how tall you'll be.
Stunted height growth is primarily caused by severe malnutrition (especially protein, vitamins, minerals) and chronic illness during childhood, but also by hormonal issues (growth hormone deficiency, thyroid problems), genetic conditions, extreme stress/neglect, and certain medications like long-term corticosteroids, all impacting the bone growth plates. While genetics set your potential height, these environmental and health factors prevent you from reaching it, especially if they occur during the critical first 1000 days (conception to age 2).
Once growth plates close, reopening them naturally is highly unlikely. However, some individuals consider advanced treatments, such as height-increasing surgeries or hormonal therapies. It's essential to consult a specialist for accurate advice tailored to your body type and health.
Scientists estimate that about 80 percent of an individual's height is determined by the DNA sequence variations they have inherited, but which genes these changes are in and what they do to affect height are only partially understood.
Lack of height change over time: If you haven't noticed an increase in height for over 1-2 years, it's likely that you've stopped growing. Maturity in physical appearance: Your body will look more adult-like, with features such as facial hair in males or fully developed hips and breasts in females.
A synthetic (artificial) type of growth hormone can be used to treat children with growth problems. Your doctor can prescribe growth hormone injections, if your child needs them. Growth hormone can also be given to adults who do not make enough HGH, such as people with Prader-Willi syndrome.
When Do Growth Plates Close? Growth plates usually close near the end of puberty. For girls, this usually is when they're 13–15; for boys, it's when they're 15–17.
Add the mother's height to the father's height in either inches or centimeters. Add 5 inches (13 centimeters) for boys or subtract 5 inches (13 centimeters) for girls. Divide by 2.
Changes in Boys
The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop.
They knew that about 80 to 90 percent of height is shaped by genetics, with environmental factors playing a smaller role. And by studying family histories, they'd identified hundreds of monogenic traits: single, rare genetic variants that can have large effects on height.
A few hundred years is simply not enough time for significant evolutionary changes to come about. Therefore, the small gain in average human height experienced in many countries over the last few hundred years was not caused evolution. The most likely cause is improved nutrition and health.
Adult height is influenced by genetics, nutrition, and habits, with the human growth hormone released during sleep playing a crucial role in development. While quality sleep is vital for health, no direct link between sleep quality and adult height has been established.
Peak height velocity (PHV) is a period in childhood where maximum rate of growth occurs. It is otherwise known as the Growth Spurt. It indicates hormonal, physiological and anatomical changes in the body bringing a child into adolescence.
While monkey bars won't magically make you taller permanently, they're absolutely brilliant for maintaining your natural height, improving posture, and supporting overall fitness.
And long after the girls have reached adult height, some boys keep growing and growing … and growing. “Males can keep growing as long as their growth plates haven't closed, which usually happens by age 18,” explains pediatrician Joshua Coleman, MD. “But in rare cases, guys can grow a little more into their early 20s.”
The analysis revealed that taller individuals had shorter lifespans compared with their shorter peers (Table 1). In individuals who lived for at least 50 years, longevity was inversely correlated with adult height in men (r = –0.27, p < 0.001) and women (r = –0.25, p < 0.001).
Key guidelines for children and adolescents
Children and adolescents aged 6–17 years should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Aerobic: Most of the 60 minutes or more per day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.