Can a 13-year-old still grow taller after puberty has started?

Generally, a 13-year-old who has begun development can still grow taller. It is recommended to eat nutritious foods and engage in regular physical activity.

Human height is fundamentally based on the skeleton, primarily involving three parts: the skull, spine, and long bones of the lower limbs. Under normal circumstances, boys develop in height later than girls. Girls typically experience a rapid growth spurt between ages 12 and 13, and their height stops increasing around ages 19 to 23. In contrast, boys start developing later, with the fastest growth usually occurring between ages 15 and 16, and height growth ceasing around ages 20 to 25. Therefore, at age 13, individuals are still in a developmental stage—specifically, the second peak period for growth in height—and generally can continue to grow taller. However, the amount of growth depends on various factors such as genetics, nutritional status, and physical exercise, and there is no specific numerical prediction.

During this developmental phase at age 13, it is advisable to drink more milk daily to supplement calcium, and to maintain regular physical activity. Sports such as basketball, jumping exercises, swimming, and rope skipping can be beneficial for increasing height.