At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the size of the Chinese gymnasts caused international controversy. With the average height of the winning Chinese team at 4 feet 9 inches, many countries accused the Chinese of cheating by using gymnasts who...
Elliptical trainers are designed to simulate a comfortable, natural running and walking stride -- but your stride length usually varies with your height, and if you're extremely short or have some form of dwarfism, finding an elliptical trainer...
Synthetic human growth hormone allows children of extremely short stature to grown to normal or nearly-normal height. Since its introduction in 2003, there is been a growing demand from parents to give it children who are short but not small...
Hypogonadism is the underactivity of the gonads. In females, hypogonadism results from defects in the ovaries, which are hormone-secreting female reproductive organs. The causes of hypogonadism can range from neurological damage, leading to...
The desire to gain height is something a lot of men and women have. Although periodic growth spurts do occur in certain people, these are generally the domain of the teen years and rarely happen in adult life. Extremely short stature can be...
The human growth hormone is made by the pituitary gland, which also produces other hormones and is located at the base of the brain. Human growth hormone is needed by the body for growth. For children, size charts can be used to monitor growth. A...
Your body makes human growth hormone, HGH, to facilitate development and healing. Chemists can synthesize this substance making it readily available to patients. Doctors use HGH to treat a broad range of ailments, according to a June 2010 review...
In order to grow and develop properly, babies need to gain an appropriate amount of weight. Underweight and overweight babies are at risk for health problems, and abnormal growth may signal underlying health conditions. Infant weight guidelines...
On average, male and female gymnasts are of short stature. This small stature is a great advantage in gymnastics because it gives a gymnast a lower center of gravity, which is especially important for balance skills. Several studies have addressed...
Hereditary bone disease includes a number of skeletal system disorders caused by a family disposition. Problems causing weak, fragile, or deformed bones can arise from the bone itself, or from organs such as the kidney, liver, intestine, or...
Certain minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are important for making your bones. Your bones are dynamic structures, which means that bone tissue is continuously broken down and rebuilt. Disorders that interfere with the absorption of dietary...
Ribosomes are the structures inside of a cell in which proteins are made. It was once thought that any mutations in the ribosomes would be deadly, but scientists discovered otherwise. In August of 2008, the National Institute of Diabetes and...
Genetic diseases or disorders result from a mutation in the genes (DNA). Sometimes, one gene can be mutated or a group of genes become mutated. In fact, some genes are passed within families. These genetic alterations can significantly affect a...
Human growth hormone, or HGH, is approved by the FDA to treat several conditions in children. Dr. Alan Rogol, writing in the online medical reference UpToDate, reports that HGH may be used to treat growth hormone deficiency as well as chronic...
Empowher.com describes dysplasia as any growth or development of abnormal cells. Dysplasia in the body can take many forms and affect different areas. It typically arises from abnormal cell or tissue proliferation, and is treated in a variety of...
HGH, or human growth hormone, is produced by your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland may be tiny, only the size of a dime, but the production and release of HGH into your bloodstream is an extremely important function. If you are diagnosed with...
The thyroid gland is located in the middle of the neck just underneath the skin in muscles at the front of the throat. The gland is divided into left and right halves and weighs approximately one ounce, according to TeensHealth.org. The thyroid...
There are no exercise techniques proven to increase a person's height. Although some people try exercises, supplements and special diets to increase their total height, it is not likely that these can lead to any appreciable change in an adult's...
Biosocial developmental theory explores how genetic, chemical and nervous system functions are influenced by the social environment and how social pressures affect the expression of biological processes. Physical, cognitive, personality and social...
Elevated levels of certain substances associated with the thyroid gland--some of them produced by the thyroid itself and others produced elsewhere in the body but targeting the thyroid--can be markers for a number of diseases or clinical...
Some athletes use the hormones erythropoietin, EPO, and human growth hormone, HGH, to gain a competitive edge. Governmental authorities have banned these performing-enhancing substances because of safety concerns, according to a May 2008 review in...
Babies grow so fast during their first year. You might wonder if your baby is growing normally. Infants usually double their birth weight by 6 months and triple their birth weight by 1 year. Your pediatrician or health care provider will monitor...
The endocrine system of the body produces hormones that regulate cellular functions and contribute to body type. The adrenal glands, a pair of small triangle-shaped glands located on top of each kidney, produce hormones that regulate the storage...
With sun exposure, the skin absorbs ultraviolet rays and transforms them into vitamin D, known as the "sunshine" vitamin. Food manufacturers also fortify products such as milk, breakfast cereals and orange juice with vitamin D. Despite all the...
According to the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease is caused by a reaction from the digestive tract to a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. The small intestine reacts to gluten causing malabsorption of nutrients. Although celiac...
Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia is a very rare condition that affects the bones in the arms and legs, and it occurs at birth. It is caused by a mutation of the gene COL2A1. This gene is responsible for normal development and growth of bone and...
Zinc is an essential trace mineral that supports immunity, cell division and growth, wound healing, carbohydrate metabolism, taste and smell. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken and legumes are food sources of zinc. Infants need 2 to 3 milligrams a day of...
Being short is a sensitive subject for many people because they are constantly reminded of it. Unfortunately, though, there is not much you can do to control how tall you ultimately will stand. Unless you suffer from a treatable medical condition,...
Your child's growth rate is measured and compared to other children in the same age group and of the same gender. A growth chart shows values of "standard" growth of children, and if your child's growth falls outside the normal values of these...
