From the Guidelines
Growth in height typically stops between ages 16-18 for girls and 18-20 for boys, though this can vary by individual. This variation is due to the different rates at which individuals mature and their growth plates close. According to the most recent study 1, growth plates are considered closed when annual height velocity slows to less than 1.5 cm per year, at which point treatment with growth-promoting therapies like vosoritide can be stopped.
Factors Influencing Growth
Several factors influence when growth stops, including:
- Genetics, which accounts for about 80% of height potential
- Nutrition and overall health, which can impact growth velocity
- Sleep quality and physical activity, which also play roles in determining final height
- Hormonal changes during puberty, which trigger the closure of growth plates
Growth Patterns
Girls usually experience their growth spurt earlier, around ages 10-14, while boys have theirs later, around ages 12-16. The peak height velocity (PHV) for boys is approximately 9.5 cm/year at a mean age of 13.5 years, and for girls, it is about 8.3 cm/year at a mean age of 11.5 years, as noted in a study on iron requirements during adolescence 1.
Medical Considerations
Medical conditions like growth hormone deficiency or excess can affect the timeline of growth cessation. For most healthy individuals, however, adult height is established by late adolescence. The decision to cease growth-promoting treatments is based on factors including growth velocity, the status of growth plates, and patient comfort with their current height, as outlined in guidelines for vosoritide therapy 1.
From the Research
Growth Stop Age
The age at which growth in height typically stops varies between individuals and is influenced by factors such as sex and somatic maturity.
- For girls, growth in height usually stops around 14 to 15 years of age, with the peak height velocity occurring at a mean age of 11.5 years 2.
- For boys, growth in height typically stops around 16 to 17 years of age, with the peak height velocity occurring at a mean age of 13.5 years 2.
- A study on the growth of girls and boys at puberty found that the height of boys from 12 to 15.5 years of age ranged from 141 to 164 cm, while for girls, the range was from 147 to 160 cm for the same age range but in the third stage of public hair development (Tanner) 3.
- Another study found that the adolescent growth spurt of boys and girls resulted in an average total height gain of 28 cm in boys and 25 cm in girls from the take-off point to cessation of growth 4.
Factors Influencing Growth Stop Age
Several factors can influence the age at which growth stops, including:
- Somatic maturity: The development of sex characters, such as breasts, pubic hair, and genitalia, is correlated with the age at take-off and peak velocity 4.
- Chronological age: While chronological age is not the sole determinant of growth, it can provide a general estimate of when growth is likely to stop 3.
- Midparent height: Allowing for midparent height can improve predictions of adult height and provide a more accurate estimate of when growth will stop 5.