Height is not predetermined!?

Question

Then how come Lebron James is 6'8" while his mom is only 5'5"? I went on one of those ridiculous "height predictors" on the internet and typed in my parents' height and my height: my parents are 5'3" and 4'11" and i m 5'5" (14 yrs old) and the predictor said that there was an error lol. And read this:

http:// www.growtallernow.com/ GrowTallerNowFAQs.htm.

Go to the part where it talks about genetics and you'll find out.also strongly influenced by the effects of certain hormones on the development of the cartilaginous portions of the 62 bones of the lower body, as well as the 24 separate and moveable bones constructing the spinal column."

I've seen so many people here on Yahoo Answers yapping "you can't increase your height, it's genetics". Well, banish the thought and keep working out. Of course, there is a limit and height is indeed influenced by genetics to an extent, but when there's a will, there's a way.

I'm not saying this because I'm short and I want to be tall or anything, but I don't want so many people out there to give up their hopes just because of a rumor.

Answer 1

Genetics determine your height, but external forces can certainly effect it. Unfortunately, you're not going to get taller any way other than through good old natural maturation.

Conditions in the womb can certainly effect size (for example, many drugs (whether illicit or medical or whatever) generally make babies smaller. Smaller babies become smaller people.

Poor nutrition or general unhealthiness also subtract from an individual's height. During times of plagues or famine, populations become smaller because of a lack of energy and resources to grow, whether its simply a shortage (famines or poor nutrition), or that the energy and resources are being diverted to other needs (fighting illness, repairing injuries, etc.)

Perhaps genetically, you are right between your parents' heights, but they lost out on some height due to these problems. Currently, the majority of the world is getting taller (Europe, following the devastation of the first half of the 20th century, China, in the middle of it's current industrial revolution, etc.), except for North America, where poor nutrition is pushing heights downwards.

If you want to keep growing, keep healthy.

Answer 2

It is a combination of both genetics and hormones/nutrition/all that.

Of course genetics has some part in determining height. That is why many tall people have tall parents. This is not necessarily the case, as in the Lebron example you gave. His mother did not EXPRESS the tall gene, but she has it, and so while she is not tall, she is able to pass it onto her offspring. Lebron is tall, but if he had a brother (I'm not sure if he does), he might turn out short if he received his mom's short gene instead of the tall gene.

You are right about there being an external factor in height increase though. During your "growth spurts" in childhood and adolescence, your body is growing at an extremely quick rate and needs a lot of calories and nutrients to do this. People who eat much more food and take in more essential vitamins and amino acids are able to grow much larger: that's why Americans have grown taller and heavier over the years (not counting obesity). Contrastingly, if you aren't able to eat enough during your growth spurt, your body has to put all the resources into keeping you alive before it causes you to grow more, so once the growth period ends in adulthood, you have had a limited net growth. If you ever visit a poor country, you will notice all the people are much shorter and thinner than in America or Europe.

Answer 3

Lebron James Dad Height

Answer 4

Silly rabbit, height is for adults.

It is genetically predetermined. Only thing you can do is stunt your growth, but you will never ever grow any taller than what's dictated in your genes.

It depends on the person, boys rarely grow to the height of their moms, most often they grow to the height of their father, uncle or grandfather. Same with females, only other way around.

The site you went to that claimed to predict height based on your parents only was BS. It would require a full analysis of your whole family tree to get an accurate prediction.

That other website is also BS not to mention downright offensive. They practically say short people might as well kill themselves because they are short and will never be successful in life. Oh come on!!! That eliminates over 50% of the world's population! It's a complete scam, don't fall for it.

Answer 5

Environment and nutrition seems to play a big role, but genetics may also have something to do with it. Over time people, on average have become taller, especially in Western countries. That is most likely because of nutrition. Sometimes first generation people born in Western countries are really big and tall, while their immigrant parents are very short and small. Probably cause the kid that grew up in the West grew up eating high animal protein Western diets while the parents ate less and different foods in their home countries.

Answer 6

First of all, from your question, it's obvious you don't understand basic genetics. Second, one can be shorter than his/her "genetic potential" by reason of poor nutrition. You may or may not grow taller. My advice to you is to concentrate more on the things you can control, and be happy with the genetic cards you're dealt.

Answer 7

It is in your DNA, which is in every cell in your body, and is the blueprint for you. Keep trying, but you won't increase your height.