Experts measure height during childhood on a growth chart that shows if children are following a normal growth rate compared to the average for their age. For example, if your five-year-old’s height falls into the 30th percentile, then 30 percent of children that age are shorter than your kid, and 70 percent are taller. About three to five percent of kids fall into the lowest percentiles, and only a few of those have a medical growth problem. But true stunted growth and development can have a few causes, with nutrition being the most common. Below, we’ll explain all the Various causes for stunted growth in children How to identify it And what you can do about it 📌 Discover 5 reasons your bone growth can be stunted Key Takeaways Stunted growth in a child means their height falls far below the average for their age. Causes of stunted growth in children include poor nutrition, chronic conditions, environmental factors, and genetics. A healthcare provider diagnoses stunted or poor growth in children using growth charts, and sometimes X-rays and blood tests. You can treat stunted growth through improved nutrition and medical treatments. The most common causes of stunted growth Growing more slowly than usual can stem from a variety of different causes, including poor nutrition, genetic conditions, and hormonal disorders. Sometimes, the cause of a child’s stunted growth remains a mystery, but most often, their healthcare provider can pinpoint the cause. Some of the most common causes of stunted growth include: Poor Nutrition When a child doesn’t get the right nutrients in their diet, they may grow slower. Malnutrition represents the most common cause of stunted growth worldwide. Inadequate young child nutrition can start from birth, setting babies up for stunted growth through a lack of breastfeeding in early infancy, later introduction of solids, and not getting enough to eat. In older kids, eating disorders can prevent good nutrition and cause a slow-down in growth. 📌Discover the worst foods for height growth Chronic Diseases A child’s growth depends on the human growth hormone (HGH), which comes from the pituitary gland in the brain. When chronic disease prevents this gland from releasing enough HGH, causing growth hormone deficiency, their growth can slow down. Chronic conditions that can slow growth include: Pediatric cancer and treatment Inflammatory bowel diseases (like Chron’s or ulcerative colitis) Heart disease Kidney disease Immune system problems Diabetes Lung disease Celiac disease Some medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can also cause growth stunting. Hormonal Disorders Some children are born with pituitary gland problems and don’t make enough human growth hormone, which can stunt their growth. Other hormonal disorders can also stunt growth. Cushing’s syndrome can cause another gland—the adrenal gland—to release extra chemicals that can stunt growth. And low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism) can keep bones from growing as fast as they need. Genetic Conditions When children have a genetic condition at birth, they may have a higher risk of stunted growth. These conditions are caused by abnormal chromosomes, which carry genes passed down from parents. Some genetic conditions that cause stunted growth include: Prader-Willi syndrome Turner syndrome Noonan syndrome Down syndrome Russell-Silver syndrome Achondroplasia (type of dwarfism) Environmental Causes Affecting Growth Not all childhood stunting is medical in nature—a child’s normal growth can just as easily be affected by their environment. 📌 Does Weight Training Stunt A Child's Growth? Poor Sanitation When kids live in an environment with poor sanitation, their food and water can carry intestinal worms, which consume the nutrients eaten, leaving little for the child’s body to use. Poor sanitation can also pave the way for infectious diseases like cholera and dysentery, which cause diarrhea and worsen growth stunting. Inadequate Healthcare Access According to the World Health Organization and World Bank, more than half of the world’s population has no access to basic healthcare. When children don’t see a healthcare provider regularly, stunted growth may not be caught for many years. Regular access to healthcare can also prevent and treat conditions that stunt growth, so a lack of this access can also contribute to stunting. Socioeconomic Status Household income can make an enormous difference in a child’s healthy development. Nutritious food costs more than unhealthy alternatives, and children in a low socioeconomic environment or in areas with poor economic development often have less access to the food they need to grow well. Environmental Stress Severe, ongoing stress can also stunt growth in children. This cause is most often seen in kids who live through war, famine, or a harmful home environment. 📌 Does stress stunt your growth? Maternal Factors Influencing Child Growth A child’s growth potential starts before birth: a mother’s habits during pregnancy can affect their child’s development well after they’re born. Poor Maternal Nutrition Almost seven million adolescent girls and women experienced acute malnutrition from 2021 to 2023. Maternal and child nutrition come hand in hand. A growing fetus gets their nutrition directly from their mother, through the placenta and umbilical cord. When a pregnant woman doesn’t eat enough healthy nutrients, their baby also misses out. Intrauterine Growth Restriction When an unborn baby grows too slowly, experts call it intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Babies born with a low birth weight from IUGR can have other problems, like issues feeding, problems keeping a stable body temperature, low blood sugar levels, and a weakened immune system. Short Maternal Stature Sometimes, kids have smaller stature because their parents are short. A child’s height is decided by their genes, which come from both parents and their extended families. As long as no other problems can explain a child’s short stature they share with their parents, their height usually doesn’t call for intervention. Diagnosis of Growth Disorders & Short Stature When a child seems shorter than they should be at their age, parents can feel eager to find out why. Often, slow growth can be normal, especially in “late bloomers.” But, with various diagnostic tools, you can discover if anything is causing slowed growth.. Growth Charts and Standards During regular checkups with your child’s pediatrician, they will measure their height and weight, and compare them to the child growth standards median. Here is the growth they expect to see, based on their age: 0 to 12 months: about 10 inches 1 to 2 years: about 5 inches 2 to 3 years: about 3½ inches per year 3 years to puberty: about 2 inches per year These growth charts are an important tool to monitor your child’s growth, identify growth failure, and prevent growth stunting. Providers use this information to decide if their growth falls within a healthy range, or if it needs to be addressed. Medical Evaluations For suspected growth stunting, your child’s doctor will do some medical evaluations. They may ask about health history for you, your child, and your family. A thorough physical exam can reveal signs of conditions that could cause growth stunting, like growth hormone deficiency. They may also order some tests, like: Blood tests to check for hormonal, genetic, or other causes X-ray of the left hand and wrist to estimate your child’s bone age Pituitary gland scan to look for anything unusual The earlier your child can be diagnosed, the better their treatment can work. What are the signs of stunted growth? If your child grows less than 2 inches a year after they turn two, that’s the number one symptom of a growth problem and a possible growth hormone deficiency. Growth stunting gets most often noticed as puberty ramps up—at around 10 years old in girls and 11 years old in boys. But, since growth can only be addressed before puberty, it’s also important to recognize the signs before puberty starts. Your pediatrician will be the most valuable resource in spotting stunted growth. But you may also notice symptoms like a delayed development of social skills, and of motor skills, like rolling over, sitting, crawling, or walking. What does the diagnosis of short stature mean to a child? When children stay much shorter than their peers over many years, some mental health issues can arise, like poor self-esteem or depression. It’s important to offer extra support to your child during this time. If needed, their provider can recommend mental health counseling or support groups. 📌Do Push-Ups Stunt Height Growth? Treatment and Prevention Strategies Growth stunting treatment can look like anything from nutritional shakes to hormone injections. Nutritional Interventions Growth failure that comes from poor nutrition can be improved with strategies to eat healthier and adding height growth supplements to their diet. If their appetite is the problem, providers may offer medication to help boost their hunger. 📌Does Sugar Stunt Growth? NuBest offers a range of growth vitamins for age groups like 2-4, 5-9, and over 10. We also have a range of products to supplement your child’s nutrition, including: NuBest Tall Kids: Berry-flavored chewables packed with 16 essential vitamins and minerals to promotes bone growth, immunity, and energy NuBest Tall 10+: Capsules with calcium, vitamins D3 & K2 for bone growth and collagen for strong, flexible bones NuBest Tall Fizzy: Orange-flavored tablet you can add to water or juice to give your child extra calcium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2 for healthy bone growth, plus over 20 essential nutrients for energy, digestion & immunity NuBest Tall Protein: Chocolate or vanilla protein shake with 10g of protein and 30+ essential nutrients 📌Does Rice Stunt Growth? Medical Treatments If growth stunting comes from a medical condition or issue, treatments will focus on that problem first. Once their condition is stable, growth stunting may resolve on its own. The most common medical treatment for growth stunting is growth hormone therapy, which involves injection of human growth hormone once a day or once a week, depending on the child. In some cases, children receive low-dose testosterone prescriptions to jump-start puberty earlier and encourage growth. But, for all other causes, treatments vary widely and follow the treatment path of the root problem. Long-term Consequences of Stunted Growth Untreated stunted growth can lead to some long-term health consequences, like chronic health conditions and lower mental performance. Health Implications Stunted growth can come with other health problems. Over time, growth stunting may increase the risk of having health issues like: Increased risk of infections Diabetes High blood pressure High cholesterol Excessive weight gain Children who have stunted growth before the age of two may be unable to catch up in not only height growth but also cognitive development. 📌Do Calisthenics Stunt Growth? Cognitive and Educational Impact Growth stunting can make it hard for kids to learn new skills and information. Experts have linked stunted growth with lower test scores, an average of two years less education, and almost five months of delayed entry to school. When kids can’t concentrate or grasp concepts at school, they will be less likely to succeed as adult. Research tells us kids with growth stunting have a high risk of low productivity and pay in their future work. Conclusion Stunted growth in children can be caused by poor nutrition, medical conditions, environmental factors, and even factors during the mother’s pregnancy. Your child’s stunted growth can be diagnosed through various tests and by calculating how their height measures up to the national average. From there, they can offer treatment based on the cause. If you feel concerned your child may have stunted growth, you can ask your healthcare provider about recommended nutritional supplements and other treatment options. Frequently Asked Questions What is growth stunting? Growth stunting describes when a child doesn’t grow as fast as they should and their height for their age measures much lower than average. What habits stop height growth in children? Several habits can slow height growth in children, including poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and inadequate sleep. How can poor nutrition lead to stunted growth? When a child doesn’t eat enough of each food group, their body doesn’t have the material they need to build longer bones. What role do hormonal disorders play in growth stunting? Hormonal disorders like human growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s syndrome can all play a role in growth stunting. How can public health policies help reduce growth stunting? Some childhood stunting happens because children don’t have access to good nutrition, a clean environment, or healthcare. Updated public health policies can address these issues to lower the incidence of growth stunting. Sources Growth Charts (for Parents) | Nemours KidsHealth. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/growth-charts.html Growth Problems | Boston Children’s Hospital. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/growth-problems Short Stature (Growth Disorders) in Children > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/short-stature-child Soliman A, De Sanctis V, Alaaraj N, et al. Early and Long-term Consequences of Nutritional Stunting: From Childhood to Adulthood. Acta Biomed. 2021;92(1):e2021168. doi:10.23750/abm.v92i1.11346 Stunting in a nutshell. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.who.int/news/item/19-11-2015-stunting-in-a-nutshell
