Height Predictor — Estimate Your Child's Adult Height from Parents' Heights

Is Height Genetic or Environmental?

A child’s final adult height is determined by roughly 70% genetics and 30% environment. Knowing the genetic height potential gives you a benchmark for evaluating whether a child’s current growth is within a normal range.

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The Mid-Parental Height Formula

The most widely used method in medicine for estimating genetic height potential.

Predicted height for boys:

(Father's height + Mother's height + 13) ÷ 2

Predicted height for girls:

(Father's height + Mother's height − 13) ÷ 2

Margin of error: ±8.5 cm (±2 standard deviations from the predicted height)

Example: Father 175 cm, Mother 162 cm

• Boy’s predicted height: (175 + 162 + 13) ÷ 2 = 175 cm (range: 166.5–183.5 cm)
• Girl’s predicted height: (175 + 162 − 13) ÷ 2 = 162 cm (range: 153.5–170.5 cm)

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Calculate with the Growth Predictor

Target Height Predictor

Genetic Growth Analytics

RESET

Estimate your child's target height based on parental data (Tanner Formula).

👦 Boy👧 Girl

Father's Height (cm)

Mother's Height (cm)

Target Height

174.0

cm

Margin of error is ±5cm. Nutrition and exercise decide 20-30% of actual height.

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Environmental Factors That Influence Growth

1. Sleep

Growth hormone is secreted most abundantly during deep sleep, particularly between 10 PM and 2 AM.

• Elementary school age (6–12): 10–11 hours of sleep recommended
• Middle school age (12–14): 9–10 hours recommended
• High school age (14–18): 8–9 hours recommended

2. Nutrition

Nutrients especially important for height growth:

• Calcium: Bone formation (milk, cheese, tofu)
• Vitamin D: Aids calcium absorption (sunlight, salmon, eggs)
• Protein: Muscle and bone growth (meat, fish, legumes)
• Zinc: Growth hormone secretion (oysters, pumpkin seeds, beef)

3. Exercise

Jumping activities stimulate the growth plates.

• Basketball, volleyball, jump rope, and swimming are recommended
• 30–60 minutes of regular physical activity per day

4. Stress

Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, which suppresses growth hormone secretion.

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Growth Chart Reference

Age	Average Height (Boys)	Average Height (Girls)
7	122.4 cm	121.4 cm
10	137.9 cm	138.0 cm
13	158.7 cm	155.4 cm
16	172.0 cm	160.3 cm
18	174.1 cm	160.6 cm

Source: 2017 Pediatric and Adolescent Growth Charts (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)

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When Do Growth Plates Close?

Growth plates gradually close as sex hormones increase.

• Girls: Approximately 2–3 years after the first menstrual period (typically age 14–15)
• Boys: Approximately 2–3 years after voice changes (typically age 16–18)

It is important to optimize environmental factors before the growth plates close.

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When Should You Consult a Growth Specialist?

• When a child is growing less than 4 cm per year
• When a child is significantly shorter than peers (below the 3rd percentile)
• When puberty begins very early or very late

A visit to a pediatric endocrinologist or general pediatrician for a bone age X-ray (skeletal maturity assessment) will allow for a more accurate prediction.