Have you ever wondered that your height is relatively shorter than most of your friends? This pretty much shatters anyone’s confidence and leads to lower self-esteem.
The question here arises, why is there much difference between the heights of different individuals?
There are some set height ranges that differ in both males and females lying in the bracket from a good/ regular to a short height.
This article is a complete guide to know about what height is considered short for a man and a woman. And what factors determine your height?
Table of Contents
What Height Is Considered Short For A Man?
Universally, there are no parameters of minimum or maximum height for a man. As height varies due to several factors which will be discussed further in the article.
Growth for boys takes place gradually up till the age of 12. When puberty hits, there’s an exponential increase in growth. Boys grow almost 12 inches between the age range of 12 to 16.
So, your height depends on the growth spurt, nutrition, and other factors. But on average, 174 centimeters or 5 feet 9 inches is considered an average height for a man.
If you lie below this range, then you can consider yourself short. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States regularly collects data on average heights for various age groups.
Accordingly, a man below the height of 5 feet 7 inches is considered short. While for people in Asia such as China and Japan, these parameters are even lower.
What Height Is Considered Short For A Woman?
Women have short stature than men, and the average height for women in different parts of the world is different.
But globally, 5 feet 3 inches or 159 centimeters is considered a standard height for a female.
According to global statistics, 68% of the female population lies between 5’2 to 5’9 height. Below 5 feet 3 inch is considered short for a female.
Which Factors Determine Your Height?
There are some factors contributing to a person’s height which are mentioned below.
Genetics
The most important factor determining your height is your genes.
Your parent’s height is significant as the combination of inherited genes will evaluate your height.
Variations in the inherited genes will affect the height of a person.
Family History
Tall parents are likely to have even taller kids. Height depends on the family history.
Kids having tall ancestors will inherit a more significant number of height-associated genes, which will help them grow taller.
But genetics is not the only factor playing a role in the development of your height.
Nutrition
Under or malnutrition is common these days, and children facing such problems are likely to have short stature despite the family history.
A balanced diet with all the essential nutrients, proteins, and minerals is required to develop proper bone and muscle growth which will influence your height.
Hormonal Factors
Growth hormone is another crucial factor contributing the growth and development.
Insulin-like growth hormones, thyroid, and some other hormones are significantly affecting the height of an individual.
Health conditions
There are several physical or mental disorders influencing your height.
For example, some health conditions affecting your skeletal system, or endocrine system that will lead to abnormal height or stunted growth.
Environmental Factors
Socioeconomic conditions and living circumstances can impact your growth and development. There is a requirement for proper nutrition and a healthy environment for optimal growth.
Are there any medical conditions that can cause shortness?
Yes! Some medical conditions can cause deviation in the standard growth rates like growth hormone deficiency, Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, Marshall-Smith Syndrome, Sotos Syndrome, and Bartter Syndrome.
Above mentioned diseases lead to abnormal growth patterns, hindering height as well.
How Can I Know If My Height Is Considered Short
There are no set rules that can determine if you are short. It merely depends on the people you socialize with in your daily routine. But here are some points that can help you to get an idea about your height.
Compare your height with your peers
The easiest way to know is by looking around, and if most of the fellows tend to mount over you, then it is a clear sign that your height is probably short.
If you have to raise your toes for a high-five or your friend has to bend over for a whisper, this claims that you are shorter in height than your friends.
Size of your clothes
Do you know what clothes size you wear, typically? If most of your clothes are within the small or medium range, then probably you are short.
Commonly, people with bigger stature tend to have longer arms and legs. So, they only fit in large-sized clothes. Comparatively, short people have shorter legs and arms that can perfectly fit in small or medium sizes.
Growth spurt in puberty
Puberty has a crucial role in your height development. Boys’ puberty tends to hit around 8 to 16 years, while girls hit by the age of 10 to 12 years.
You might have observed that girls of the same age as boys are slightly taller, because puberty hits girls earlier than boys, but the boys catch up fast.
If you haven’t hit puberty yet, then relax. You still have time to grow taller. Engage yourself in different physical activities to avail maximum growth spurt.
Trouble seeing among the crowds
In a concert or a considerable group activity, if you are not able to see correctly the performers or the people displaying something, then you might have a short height.
It is hard for short people to see comfortably among a crowd of 6 feet tall people.
Hence short heightened people often experience their view being blocked or hindered.
Can Exercise Make You Taller?
By doing the right exercises, you can promote your actual growth but can’t create surprising results.
You are likely to have good results if you focus on doing physical activity during your teenage years.
But if you exercise after hitting your 20s, you might experience minimal or no increase in your height.
Exercise improves your posture and strengthens your muscles rather than adding inches to your height. But here are a few exercises that can increase your size, to some extent.
1. Stretching Exercises
Regularly doing stretching exercises will improve flexibility and posture. If you focus on stretching exercises targeting the spine, like cobra stretch or cat camel stretch, or hanging on a monkey bat will significantly increase the chances of an increase in your height.
2. Yoga and Pilates
These exercises will improve your focus and body strength and indirectly support spinal alignment. The better the spine alignment, the better it will hold your body weight.
3. Strength Training
Strengthening exercises targeting your spine, legs, and lower extremities will support developing good posture. Exercises like squats, lunges, deadlifts, planks, and back extensions will improve your body’s strength.
4. Aerobic Exercise
Making aerobic activities part of your routine will impact your overall fitness and health. Engage yourself in cycling, swimming, or running alternatively.
5. Posture Exercise
Postural alignment is significant to hold a hold height. To keep your posture right, you can practice shoulder rolls, chin tucks, or even seated posture exercises that can improve your posture by doing a routine.
Final Thoughts
No matter in which height range you lie, it is essential to embrace your body. Otherwise, you will likely develop some complex relating to your body image.
Height parameters vary in both males and females. But these parameters depend on several factors, like genetics, ethnicity, nutrition, and other factors.
You can’t do a lot to change if you are short. Instead of focusing on changing your height, change your perception and carry yourself most elegantly so that even your short seems appealing to your peers.
