My height has remained the same, and there is only a small increase in weight. Is this hormone deficiency? Is there any way to make me grow normally again?
I am a fifteen-year-old girl who is worried about her growth. I am only 5 ft (152 cm) tall and weigh only 90 lb (41 kg). Perhaps it is because of my Asian heritage. For the past few years my height has remained the same, and there is only a small increase in weight. My arms, feet, fingers, and legs are not growing either.
Have you heard of anything like this? Is this hormone deficiency? Is there any way to make me grow normally again? You might suggest that it’s malnutrition, but I feel that I eat a fairly well balanced diet.
The most common cause of short stature is the height potential one has inherited from one’s parents. If your parents and relatives are small, the likelihood of your also being petite is quite high. Hormone deficiencies are rarer causes and are often associated with being markedly short-less than your height-and/or with delayed puberty. Remember that most girls experience their growth spurt between ages ten and thirteen, and that by fifteen increase in height can be minimal: you may be experiencing the normal slowing and cessation of growth.
Your doctor is the best person to tell if you if your height is normal for you; make an appointment to discuss your concerns.
Tags: Adolescence, growth spurt, physical change, slow growth, teen body, teenager body
