Does coffee really stunt your growth?

Answer 1

I've been drinking it since I was in my very early teens.
I'm now 34 and 6ft tall, so no, it doesn't stunt your growth.

Answer 2

Currently, the medical community feels that a regular, significant intake of any caffeinated beverage will stunt your growth. However, the difference is very slight (about 1/4 of an inch), and is dependent on you drinking the caffeine three or more times a day for all the growth years of your life. Judging on the fact that you are old enough to be asking this question on an internet forum, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that coffee will not visibly affect the remainder of your growth cycle from this point forward.

It is important to keep in mind, that with things that can stunt growth, the research supporting claims of growth inhibition can be pretty sketchy in the first place. To accurately make the claim that anything stunts human growth, a research company would have to monitor users and non-users of the product over the entire human growth cycle (an average of twenty years!), and monitor both males and females from a variety of demographics. Since growth stunting is not a life-threatening thing, and because no company has a significant interest in proving that caffeine does stunt one's growth, it is pretty safe to say that such research has never been adequately funded and conducted. Instead, it is likely that random polls have been conducted of people at the end of their growth cycles, asking about their caffeine use habits. With such an uncontrolled sampling, the margin of error would be very high: Reported caffeine users would have used caffeine in varying amounts, probably sporadically, at different times during their development. So, it is easy to imagine that the perceived 1/4 of an inch in height difference could well have nothing to do with the caffeine, and everything to do with the sampling methods, demograhics of those sampled, or a number of other factors.

Answer 3

No, coffee doesn't stunt your growth. But coffee does contain caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system. For most people, a cup or two of coffee a day doesn't do any harm. But if you're drinking more — especially if you are getting caffeine from other sources, like soda — you may want to cut back. That's because high doses of caffeine can cause anxiety and dizziness, and may interfere with normal sleep.

If you decide to cut back or stop drinking coffee, do so gradually. Stopping suddenly can cause unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, irritability, and fatigue.

It's best to ask your doctor if you should stop or cut back on drinking coffee. Caffeine can cause problems for people who have heart problems or are taking certain medications. It may also trigger migraine headaches.

For more information, check out these articles:
Caffeine
Energy Drinks and Food Bars: Power or Hype?
Migraine Headaches

Although we can't reply personally, you may see your question posted to this page in the future. If you're looking for medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment, consult your doctor or other qualified medical professional. If this is an emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

Answer 4

yes

Answer 5

no, because A LOT of people would be VERY short.

Answer 6

that*s an old wives tale....

Answer 7

no