Teen Height Predictor - Adult Height From Parents' Height

Human adult stature is a polygenic trait with an estimated heritability of 70% to 80%. Pediatric endocrinologists widely employ the Mid-Parental Height (Tanner Method) to establish a child's genetic target height range based on the biological parents' measurements:

1. Biological Sex Adjustment: Because adult men are on average 13 cm (approximately 5 inches) taller than adult women due to a longer pre-pubertal growth period and a stronger peak growth spurt, parental heights are mathematically harmonized: • For Boys (Target Mid-Parental Stature): Target Height (cm) = [Father's Height + (Mother's Height + 13)] ÷ 2 • For Girls (Target Mid-Parental Stature): Target Height (cm) = [(Father's Height - 13) + Mother's Height] ÷ 2 2. Statistical Target Range Band (±5 to ±8.5 cm): Genetic inheritance involves random parental allele segregation. A healthy child's final adult stature typically falls within a bell-curve confidence band of ±5 cm (80% confidence) to ±8.5 cm (95% confidence) around the calculated mid-parental target.

Example 1 — 14-Year-Old Adolescent Male: • Father's Height: 180 cm | Mother's Height: 165 cm • Current Height: 160 cm | Current Age: 14 years | Current Weight: 50 kg 1. Target Adult Stature = (180 + 165 + 13) ÷ 2 = 358 ÷ 2 = 179.0 cm (5' 10.5") 2. Expected Target Range = 174.0 cm to 184.0 cm (±5 cm) 3. Progress toward Adult Height = (160 ÷ 179) × 100 = 89.4% 4. Remaining Linear Growth = 179.0 - 160.0 = 19.0 cm 5. Estimated Growth Rate over Remaining Years = 19.0 cm ÷ (18 - 14) = 4.75 cm/year Example 2 — 12-Year-Old Adolescent Female (Same Parents): • Father: 180 cm | Mother: 165 cm | Current Height: 150 cm | Current Age: 12 years 1. Target Adult Stature = (180 + 165 - 13) ÷ 2 = 332 ÷ 2 = 166.0 cm (5' 5.4") 2. Progress toward Adult Height = (150 ÷ 166) × 100 = 90.4% 3. Remaining Linear Growth = 166.0 - 150.0 = 16.0 cm 4. Estimated Growth Rate over Remaining Years = 16.0 cm ÷ (18 - 12) = 2.67 cm/year

Adolescent growth does not occur at a steady linear rate. Stature increases rapidly during Peak Height Velocity (PHV) before slowing as growth plates fuse.