Question
At 20 years old, I am only 157 cm tall. Will I still grow taller?
Answer
According to medical knowledge, once the epiphyseal plate cartilage of long bones stops growing, a person’s height will no longer increase. The growth of the epiphyseal plate cartilage is due to the synergistic effects of various hormones in the human body, particularly the action of growth hormone. Growth hormone is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in the human brain, which promotes the division and proliferation of cartilage cells, thereby widening the epiphyseal plate of long bones, which is the dominant factor in human height growth. However, when an individual reaches adulthood, the epiphyseal plate usually closes, meaning that the effect of growth hormone will weaken and height will no longer increase. Therefore, for a 20-year-old adult, if the epiphyseal plate has closed, it is unlikely that height will increase any further. It is recommended to consult a doctor for bone age testing and professional evaluation to understand whether there is still a possibility of growing taller.