Based on some reports, around half of the people in America are shorter than average. Of course, some people are farther from the norm than others. Those who are noticeably shorter often wish they could find a way to add a few inches to their height. Over time, people have tried a range of fairly unusual methods to make themselves taller from hanging upside-down by their feet to machines and devices that are actually marketed as bone stretchers.
Of course, those solutions don’t really live up to their marketing claims. These days, though, the world is largely turning to medications and supplements to address their concerns. When it comes to growing taller, there’s a lot of talk about testosterone potentially making a difference. So, can testosterone make you taller? Let’s take a closer look at this hormone and whether it can effectively boost your height.
During Puberty
During puberty, the body’s testosterone production increases. That’s the case for both boys and girls though not quite to the same extent in females. That uptick has a number of effects, including reproductive changes, more body hair, and increased muscle mass. Bone growth also takes place, which causes teenagers to get taller.
Along the way, hormones also cause the epiphyseal growth plates in bones to close. Those growth plates are pieces of cartilage at the ends of bones that allow them to get longer as we grow up. Once those plates close during the teenage years, growth stops. That’s why we generally don’t get any taller as adults.
In Adulthood
For adults, things are different. Between the ages of 15 and 20, the epiphyseal growth plates close up completely. They transform from soft, flexible cartilage to hard bone. At that point, testosterone can’t make a person grow taller. Nothing can. There are no over-the-counter treatments, interesting gadgets, or medical interventions that can truly increase a person’s height. In fact, as gravity takes its toll over time, it actually causes adults to get a little shorter.
What Can Make You Taller?
For children and teens, getting plenty of exercise and fresh air and eating healthy foods are all crucial for growth. In cases where they’re not growing the way they should, doctors may prescribe testosterone or growth hormone therapy to help them catch up. Those therapies are also used to address certain issues in adults, but increasing their height isn’t one of them.
As an adult, working on your posture can help you appear taller. Using specially designed lift shoes can make you look and feel a little taller as well. Still, in our adult years, actually growing taller is out of the question.
Bottom Line
We’re all genetically programmed to reach a specific height before we’re even born. How tall we’ll ultimately get depends on the genes we inherit from our parents. A healthy lifestyle can help ensure we reach our full height potential as we get older, and testosterone production during puberty plays an essential role in our growth. Certain medical conditions can cause children and teens to grow more slowly than they should, and doctors can often address those issues.
Once we reach adulthood, though, we stop growing taller. No supplement, machine, or routine can change that. Testosterone is no exception. We need it for our bodies to function properly, but it won’t make us grow any more than we were meant to from the beginning.