The science behind how short parents have tall kids – after Gary Barlow’s tall son sparks meltdown

IF someone has tall parents, you’d expect them to have tall kids.

And if they’re on the shorter side, it’s likely their children will be too, right?

Not necessarily. While genetics play a key role in determining your height, there’s a bit more to it.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and clinical director at patient.info, said: “Genetics – what you inherited from both parents – is the main factor influencing how tall you are.

“However, it’s important to remember that this depends on both parents.

“What’s more, if one parent has very tall members of their family, they could pass on genes for tallness even if they aren’t that tall themselves.”

Take Gary Barlow, for example. He sent the internet into meltdown this week after sharing a family photo.

The 5ft 7in Take That star, 53, looked tiny next to his son Daniel, 24, who towered over him at 6ft 2in.

The picture, which Gary originally posted in 2023, also featured his wife Dawn Andrews, who stands at a similar height to her husband, and youngest daughter Daisy, 15, who is a little smaller.

The couple are also parents to Emily, 22. Previous snaps show her to be about the same size as her dad.

So why is Daniel so much taller than Gary?

Experts say a person’s height can generally be predicted by how tall their parents are.

If your mum is 5ft 6in and your dad is 5ft 10in, then chances are, you’ll be around 5ft 8in.

But if your granddad was over 6ft and his father was even taller, you may well be too.

And genes aren’t the sole predictor. Things like nutrition, hormonal deficiencies and medical conditions also have an influence.

Dr Jarvis said: “It’s not just genetics.

“Things like nutrition – both that of the mother during pregnancy and the young person in their early years – can also have an impact.

“Less commonly, so can hormone abnormalities and inherited diseases.”

Let’s start with the obvious – gender.

While girls grow at a faster rate than boys when they’re younger, adult men tend to be an average of 5.5in (14cm) taller than adult women, according to MedicalNewsToday.

They have higher levels of testosterone, which triggers cells throughout the body to grow, and their bones tend to be denser and heavier.

When it comes to food, your parents may have told you as a child that you’d grow big and strong if you ate your greens.

While not entirely factual, there is an element of truth.

Getting adequate nutrition during early childhood is critical in human development – and that includes your height.

“A diet based on whole, nutritious foods can ensure you will grow up to the height your genes might dictate,” Healthline says.

“On the flip side, a poor diet could lead to a shorter stature compared to your parents.”

It therefore makes sense that those who have reduced access to healthy foods, such as those in poorer countries or of lower socioeconomic status, may be shorter.

Hormones – or the lack of them – also partly dictate how tall you are.

Abnormalities or deficiencies in things like thyroid hormones, growth hormones and sex hormones, such as testosterone and oestrogen, can boost or disrupt body growth.

For example, children who develop hypothyroidism – when a small gland in your neck doesn’t produce enough hormones – may be shorter than average.

And those with gigantism – when the body produces too much growth hormone, causing tissues and bones to grow more quickly – may be taller.

But it’s not just hormones. Other medical conditions can influence your height.

DWARFISM AND GIGANTISM

One of the most well-known is restricted growth, sometimes called dwarfism.

While it’s most commonly caused by being born to small parents, it is sometimes the result of the body not producing enough growth hormone, according to the NHS.

It can also be triggered by certain genetic syndromes, such as Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.

And conditions that can lead to people being taller than average include Marfan syndrome, a disorder of the body’s connective tissues, and Klinefelter syndrome, where boys are born with an extra X chromosome.

Research even suggests that exposure to air pollution can also stunt growth, as well as premature birth.

Finally, how active you are can play a role in your height.

No, running lots and lifting weights won’t suddenly make you 6ft 5in, but exercise promotes good posture and stature, which may help increase your height (or the appearance of it).

The average height for a man in the UK is 5ft 9in, and 5ft 3in for a woman.