“Worried if They’re Short—or Suddenly Shoot Up”... The ‘Rate’ Is the Answer to Our Child’s Growth [Health Talk]
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- 2026-10-30 08:30:00
- Updated
- 2026-10-30 08:30:00
[Financial News] When a child is shorter than their peers, worry is often the first reaction. But suddenly shooting up in height is not necessarily a reason to relax, either. More important than a child’s height now is whether they are growing at a rate appropriate for their stage of development.
Rapid growth does not necessarily mean a child will be tall as an adult. In particular, if puberty begins early, a child may initially appear taller than their peers, but their growth plates may close early, potentially affecting their final adult height.
One key condition to watch for is precocious puberty. In general, precocious puberty may be suspected if secondary sex characteristics appear before age 8 in girls or before age 9 in boys. When puberty begins early, sex hormones can temporarily cause rapid growth in height, but the period during which a child can grow may actually become shorter. Conversely, if growth is markedly slow or a child falls outside their growth curve, the cause should also be investigated.
During a child’s growth years, it is therefore important to consider not only height and weight but also growth rate, bone age, and the progression of secondary sex characteristics. In addition to genetic factors, many other factors—including nutrition, sleep, physical activity, and hormonal abnormalities—affect height growth. Regular growth checkups can help detect signs of abnormalities early and determine the right time for appropriate care or treatment.
It is important to look at overall physical balance as well as height. Conditions such as scoliosis during the growth years, postural imbalances, and sleep problems can affect a child’s health and daily life, so when needed, it is advisable to seek a professional evaluation from the relevant specialists.
Shin Jeong-yeon, director of the Growth Clinic at Nanuri Hospital, explained, “The onset of puberty is an important time to check a child’s growth. Even if a child is tall now, an advanced bone age and early-onset puberty may mean they do not grow to be tall as an adult; conversely, even if they are short now, they may grow taller later.” She added, “It is advisable to monitor growth rate and the progression of secondary sex characteristics and, if needed, accurately assess growth with a bone age test.”
She continued, “Rather than simply waiting for a child to grow taller, it is important to check their condition and manage it at the right time. We will take each child’s individual growth characteristics into account and, when needed, coordinate care across spine, joint, and neurological specialties to support healthy growth and development.”
She continued, “Rather than simply waiting for a child to grow taller, it is important to check their condition and manage it at the right time. We will take each child’s individual growth characteristics into account and, when needed, coordinate care across spine, joint, and neurological specialties to support healthy growth and development.”
[email protected] Jeong Myeong-jin, medical correspondent Reporter