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What to do about being short statured

Jun 24, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Short stature may be caused by genetic factors, age and gender, malnutrition, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and other conditions, and can be improved according to the specific situation. Height is largely influenced by genetics. If parents or family members are generally short, an individual may also exhibit short stature. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help individuals achieve their full growth potential.

Short stature may be caused by genetic factors, age and gender, malnutrition, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and other factors. Depending on the specific situation, improvements can be made through lifestyle adjustments, medication, and other methods. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation and receive treatment under a doctor's guidance.

1. Genetic Factors: Height is significantly influenced by genetics. If parents or family members are generally short, the individual may also exhibit short stature. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and sufficient sleep, can help maximize an individual's growth potential.

2. Age and Gender: Before puberty, the rate of height growth is similar in boys and girls. After entering puberty, boys generally grow taller faster and for a longer duration than girls. It is recommended to ensure adequate nutrient intake, particularly proteins, calcium, and vitamin D, to support healthy bone development.

3. Malnutrition: Bone growth and development require sufficient nutrients, especially proteins, calcium, and vitamin D. Long-term malnutrition or an imbalanced diet can impair bone growth and development, leading to short stature. Improving dietary habits by increasing the intake of proteins, calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients—such as lean meats, fish, eggs, and dairy products—is recommended.

4. Growth Hormone Deficiency: Growth hormone is one of the key hormones regulating human growth and development. Insufficient secretion of growth hormone by the anterior pituitary gland may lead to delayed growth and development, resulting in short stature. This may be accompanied by symptoms such as normal intellectual development but short height, delayed bone age, and metabolic abnormalities. The primary treatment is supplementation of growth hormone as directed by a physician. This can be achieved through growth hormone injections. Commonly used growth hormone formulations include lyophilized injections, liquid injections, and long-acting formulations.

5. Hypothyroidism: Thyroid hormone also plays an important role in bone growth and development. Hypothyroidism is usually caused by insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones, which can affect bone growth and development, resulting in short stature. Symptoms may include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, and bradycardia. It is recommended to take medications such as levothyroxine sodium tablets, thyroid extract tablets, or Yikang capsules as directed by a physician to improve the condition.

Short stature caused by physiological factors can be improved through lifestyle modifications and dietary changes to promote healthy bone development. For short stature caused by pathological factors, appropriate treatment measures should be taken according to the underlying cause to improve the individual's growth and development.

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