How much does heredity affect a child's height?

There are two things that affect growth and development, namely environmental factors and heredity. Of course, environmental factors are factors that can be improved. Meanwhile, heredity cannot be modified anymore. One of the things that is often considered related to heredity is height. Usually, short parents will have short children, and vice versa. However, how much influence does heredity have on a child's height?

The effect of heredity on the child's height

Heredity really plays a role in a person's height. According to Chao-Qiang Lai from Tufts University, about 60-80% of the difference in height between individuals is determined by genetic factors, while 20-40% is influenced by environmental factors, especially nutrition, reported by Scientific American.

This is slightly different from the results of Dubois's research, et al in 2012. The study showed that heredity affects a person's height at birth in a low number (only about 4.8-7.9% of women). However, with age, the effect of heredity on height will increase, replacing environmental factors that are getting lower.

On the other hand, the influence of environmental factors at birth is very large (around 74.2-87.3% in women). This proves that supportive environmental conditions can help better children's growth and development. In early life, heredity only plays a small role in the child's height.

So, good environmental factors can improve bad heredity in early life. Meanwhile, when the child is older, heredity is more influential than environmental factors. It is not surprising that the first two years of a child's life are critical times in supporting optimal children's growth and development.

Environmental factors can amplify the effect of heredity

It will be better if the child is taller than the parents. However, some children can also be shorter than their parents. Well, environmental factors, especially nutrition, actually play a role here.

Good environmental factors, especially in the early days of a child's life, can maximize the potential of a child's genetic (hereditary). So, children can reach their optimal height according to their genetic potential. Remember, height is the accumulation of years. So, height in childhood can affect adult height.

What kind of environment can support height growth?

Apart from getting adequate nutrition, the best way to maximize height growth is to do regular exercise, get enough sleep, and always maintain health.

Properly fulfilled nutritional needs, especially calcium, can help bone growth, so that bones get longer. Good nutrition can also help maintain health, so you don't get sick easily. Frequent illnesses, especially in infancy and children, can interfere with growth and development, so they don't run optimally.

Good sleep and regular exercise can also help increase height. How to? During sleep and exercise, the body actually releases more growth hormone. That way, this can help maximize height growth.