text: i'm twelve how can i grow faster? i'm only like 4'11" and i want to know what will make me grow.    please give me some advice. as someone said, you still have as many as 9-10 years left to reach your full height! my wife says she actually grew an inch between age 20 and 22.   much of it is genetic (how tall are your parents?). our kid is 6'4" at age 16, but i'm 6'3" and my wife 5'7". both of us had one tall parent (dads) and short moms, so obviously, one side may "win out".  first, make sure you are eating enough calories. (see the healthy body calculator at the site below) eat plenty of protein, for your muscles and calcium-rich foods, for your bone growth, and carbohydrates for energy. if you don't like dairy, leafy green veggies have calcium, or you can take a supplement. make sure it's calcium citrate, since it's absorbed better, and combined with magnesium.  you can also get foods enriched w/calcium, like cereals and juices.  exercise is important (strong muscles stimulate bone growth and strength), as is the proper amount of sleep. teens need at least nine hours a night, and they often don't get it, so make sure you don't stay up too late.   avoid the pressure to be too thin, as this will stunt your growth. also, avoid cigarettes, alcohol and any drugs (obviously).  some prescription drugs can interfere with growth, such as anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressants and others. check with your doctor (if you're on any of these) to see which ones you can switch.   your problem may just be that your are maturing more slowly than your peers, which is usually normal. if lack of growth continues, however, check w/your doctor to test for things like thyroid problems (and other endocrine (gland) disorders) and diabetes.  if you follow healthy eating, sleep and exercise, you should catch up to your peers soon. also, you may never become as tall as most others, but don't let that interfere with your self esteem. many attractive women are actually shorter (j-lo, for instance) don't worry!