growth after 15?

Question

I developed bulimia at age 13. It slowed my growth to an inch per year. I have never had a period, am 15 now. Everyone in my family is taller than I am, I am convinced I have stunted my growth. Just 1-2 inches would help(my mid parent height is two inches taller), but is it possible to make up lost inches if I am already 15? I am eating right now, calcium supplements also, but how much have i stunted my growth?

Answer 1

There is no real way to tell whether, or how much, you may have stunted your growth because it is possible that you were destined to be short despite your genes.

However, you are doing the right thing--eating right and taking calcium supplements. You may also want to do impact exercises for your legs like walking. This will help encourage your bones to grow.

Women grow, on average, until they are 16--some later, some earlier. I was 5'2.5" on my 15th birthday, I managed to gain another 1/4 inch after that--but I NEVER ate right or exercised until it was way too late for me.

Bone growth does not stop at 16, though, it continues until you are around 30, so keep eating right and exercising no matter what! Even if you don't get taller you have the time to make up for what you lost and build healthy bones that will last you for the rest of your adult life.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I am sorry to hear about your bulimia.

However, for better or worse, you probably didn't stop growing because of it.

Height is one of those weird things that isn't always just genetic.

I am the shortest in my family also. I am just a littler over 5' - and my dad is 6'4"!!

I stopped growing when I was 10 or so, but my sister kept growing into her teens and is a good four or five inches taller!

There's really no rhyme or reason, sorry! You're probably done growing. It's okay, though, there are a lot of statistics out that prove that men prefer short women!! :)