What makes some people tall and others short? Scientists have found that anywhere between 60% and 80% of vertical growth in childhood is genetically determined. The rest depends on nutrition, environment, and activity levels. Getting taller is a hallmark of growing up, but an increasing number of adults find themselves dissatisfied by their height. If you are one of the large numbers of people wondering how to increase height after 18, read on to find out what you can do about it.

Is it possible to increase height as an adult? Unfortunately, it's very improbable that you will grow significantly once adulthood has been reached. Adulthood isn't necessarily dictated by the magical number eighteen. The epiphyseal plates are special cartilage found at the end of long bones. When they harden and close, at whatever age, your growth stops, and it is hard to lengthen the bones after that.

Can Adults Get Taller?

1. Exercise

Physical activity such as stretching, hanging, and swimming may not contribute to a dramatic increase in height. However, they are beneficial in other ways. Stretching and hanging help to relieve stress in the back and limbs while encouraging the spine to stretch to its maximum length. This generally improves perceived height and overall posture. Also, these exercises are very good for muscle tone and fitness in general.

2. Nutrition

Protein, calcium, and vitamin D are the most important components of the diet that help to improve bone health and height in children. While a good diet has many benefits for adults, an increase in height isn't one of them. Nevertheless, a diet high in protein and calcium helps keep bones in good shape; especially in women, who are more prone to osteoporosis in adulthood. Strong bones are always a good thing if you are looking for ways to be or appear taller than you are.

3. Sleep

A lot of people think about diet and exercise when wondering how to increase height after 18, but neglect sleep. A good sleep cycle is very important in growing years to make sure that the body can grow and develop properly. Regarding adults over eighteen, sleeping for the right number of hours every night can make the body look fresh and tall in the morning. Gravity causes the body to compress while standing so that most people look a few centimeters shorter by the end of the day. When lying flat, gravitation pressure evens out and the body lengthens to its full height. Adults should aim for six to eight hours of sleep daily.

4. Medication

The most popular growth accelerating medication is a human growth hormone called HGH. HGH is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It's responsible for muscle and bone growth in developing years, fat metabolism, and correct body composition. HGH has been proven to be effective when administered to young children as it contributes to increased height. HGH supplements' benefits for adults over eighteen are a little less clear. It's also dangerous to take hormones without a prescription, so please talk to your doctor about HGH and other medications purporting to help you grow a few inches.

5. Limb lengthening surgery

Invented by Gavriil Ilizarov in Siberia to treat patients with limbs of different lengths or physical disabilities, this complex and dangerous cosmetic surgery has been adopted by surgeons to increase height. This is an extreme step as it involves breaking leg bones, followed by stretches using an external brace. Then the patient has to wait for the broken pieces to join and heal. Patients undergoing the process face months bedridden, excruciating pain, and the risk of permanent crippling. Most doctors advise against the process.

Making the Most of Your Height

You might be thinking that none of the solutions offered above seem particularly encouraging. It's probably a dismaying truth that no matter how hard you try, it's almost impossible to effect much natural improvement in height beyond a few centimeters. Far more effective than looking for ways to get taller is to find ways to look taller.

1. Good posture

This is the single most effective way of seeming taller than you are. A straight back thrust out shoulders and upright neck will do wonders for your height, health, and self-esteem.

2. The right clothes

If you want to know how to increase height after 20, a fashion expert might be a better help than a doctor. Jeans, particularly when flared at the bottom, are usually designed to draw attention to your legs and make your frame look lankier. Prefer pants like capris over long pants. Opt for short jackets and long, thin ties. If you wear dresses, skip the maxi dress and go with short, flowy, form-fitting dresses cinched at the waist. Pick sheer fabric for hosiery rather than solids as they will add texture to your legs.

3. Shoes

Perhaps most important are your choice of shoes. This is easier for women than for men. See if you are comfortable wearing heels. Even wedges or kitten heels are better than flat shoes. If heels are too uncomfortable, then at least consider this simple gender-neutral trick: use raised insoles in your shoes. Men can look for shoes with higher insoles too. Another option is the platform soles increasing height in a tasteful and inconspicuous way.

Take Home Message

There are a lot of ways to deal with the stress of being shorter than you would like to be. Eat right, exercise, stand up straight, and dress well. You'll score points for an appearance that is healthy, youthful, and confident. More important than any of the above tips is to feel comfortable with your body exactly the way it is. Self-love is a stronger tonic for an improved life than any dubious marketplace medicine promising to make you tall.