What is the average height for a 14-year-old boy?
64.6 inches (164 centimeters) is the mean height for boys at 14.
Boys enter puberty later than girls, between 12 and 15 years, so their significant growth occurs around two years later than girls. Although their growth rate slows around 16, their body mass (mainly muscles) continues to build up.
What is the average height for a 14-year-old girl?
63.1 inches (160.5 centimeters) is the mean height for girls at 14.
Girls grow at an earlier age than boys do. That is why they become taller than boys until they are approximately 14. After that, they grow an average of half an inch per year during the next 5 years.
How to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)?
BMI is a great tool to help you know if your kids’ weight is in healthy proportion to their height.
Weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
or Weight (kg) / [height (m)]2
Instead of calculating by yourself, you can click here and fill the number in the available boxes so that they can give you the exact BMI. After getting the final number, you need to know how to read it.
|
BMI |
Weight range |
|
Under 18.5 |
Underweight |
|
Between 18.5 and 24.9 |
Healthy/Normal |
|
Between 25 and 29.9 |
Overweight |
|
Over 30 |
Obese |
Understanding the BMI helps you know if your child is malnourished or overweight. Relying on that, you can help them get their weight back on track and reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, or certain cancers.
How to ensure the best growth possible at 14?
A person’s height is mainly determined by genes from his dad and mom. That is why most parents apply the mid-parental method to predict their children’s height. It is simple and easy to do. Add up the heights of the parents (in inches) and divide the number by 2. If your kid is a boy, add 2.5 inches to this number. But for girls, you need to subtract 2.5 inches from the number.
For instance, take a girl with a father who is 72 inches tall and a mother who is 60 inches tall.
72 + 60 = 132
132 / 2 = 66
66 – 2.5 = 63.5
In fact, this number is not exact because other factors like nutrition, activity level, etc. might affect height. Following are the tips to help your 14-year-old children grow healthily.
A balanced diet
14 is a time to grow and change. That is why teens need a lot of calories to assist their growth and fuel their bodies. Boys require an average of 2,800 calories a day, while girls require an average of 2,200 calories a day. As parents, you need to pay attention to what foods your kids should eat to support this process.
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Carbohydrates are the major source of energy because half of the calories come from them. Make sure to select healthy carbs from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk.
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Protein is vital for growing and building muscles, and it occupies about a quarter of the daily calories. Good sources of protein include lean meat, seafood, poultry, nuts, eggs, legumes, soy, and low-dairy and non-dairy products.
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Healthy fats help with growth as well as assist the body in absorbing vitamins effectively. Teens need about a quarter of their calories as fat and should focus on nuts, olives, avocados, fatty fish, and vegetable oils.
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Vitamins and minerals are required for normal growth, including height and body growth.
Regular workouts
Jumping jacks, cycling, or swimming is always an excellent exercise that gets the heart pumping. Besides, your kids should carry out some kind of resistance training with the correct form to strengthen their muscles and bones. And to prime their bodies for growth, you should encourage them to perform physical activities between 30 and 60 minutes per day. Make sure to do it regularly to release growth hormones, which is vital for optimizing height growth during growing years.
Good sleep
Having high-quality sleep plays a crucial role in maximizing height potential. 14-year-old teens have a lot going on in their lives, so a good and restful night’s sleep is necessary for holding extra cortisol at bay (which is a factor in hindering growth hormone production). They should get to bed at a reasonable time and aim for 9 to 9 ½ hours of sleep per night to secrete growth hormone.
Sun exposure
Getting enough sunlight is essential for keeping optimal vitamin D levels because this vitamin is made from cholesterol in the skin when it is exposed to the sun. As we know, vitamin D helps the cells in the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, two vital minerals for maintaining healthy and strong bones. Exposing about a third of the area of the skin to the sun at midday is the best way to get enough vitamin D. Also, teens with darker skin need to spend more time synthesizing the same amount of this nutrient.
Proper posture
Keeping proper posture does not actually extend the bones, but it will help show the full height of the skeleton. Remind your kids that slumping over might make them look a few inches shorter than they are. Meanwhile, standing or sitting straight instantly adds a couple of inches to their stature.
Stretching
Many reckon that stretching for a period supports height growth. But the truth is that stretching does not lengthen bones, except for promoting posture and encouraging you to stand tall. If you want your children to make the most of their current height, tell them to stretch for around 10 minutes 1-2 times per day.
Healthy weight range
The average weight for 14-year-old girls is between 105 lbs and 115 lbs (47 to 52 kilograms). Meanwhile, the average weight for 14-year-old boys is between 105 lbs and 125 lbs (47 to 56 kilograms).
Gaining weight to the point of obesity affects height negatively. Indeed, obesity might contribute to weak bone structure and metabolism, leading to osteoporosis in the back, joints, and hips.
No smoking and caffeine
It is widely known that smoking is not good for many reasons, but it might hinder growth too. A study pointed out that boys between the ages of 12 and 17 who smoked 10 cigarettes a day grew only an inch shorter than non-smoking ones [1]. Meanwhile, for girls who already have an enhanced risk of developing osteoporosis, smoking might affect their bone density badly.
When it comes to caffeine, there is no such direct evidence that proves it can stunt growth. But consuming caffeine too close to bedtime can hinder sleep quality. Moreover, excessive caffeine consumption might badly lead to severe medical risks [2].
Fashion
The truth is that heels and platform shoes may give your kids a boost in height. Besides, if they know how to change their clothing, like putting on fitted and tailored clothing, shorter skirts or shorts, high-waisted skirts or pants, ankle boots, or monochromatic clothing, their torso and legs appear taller.
Dietary supplements
These products are often loaded with necessary nutrients for overall health and development. You can consider buying them, but remember that they are not magic pills that can improve your children’s height overnight. Although teens at the age of 14 are still in their growing years, you should consult your doctor to know if they should take supplements. Importantly, avoid those who promise significant height increases in a short time.
In a word
Knowing the average height for 14-year-old boys and girls can be helpful for their parents and doctors who want to monitor and determine their children’s physical development. Besides, do not miss out on some methods mentioned above and stick to them to optimize height potential.
