Does caffeine and lack of sleep really stunt growth?

Question by dawg: Does caffeine and lack of sleep really stunt growth?
I'm 13 and im 5'7", I drink a soda every once and a while (maybe one a day or one every two days), and I watch tv until 12am, then sleep until 6:45am. Am I stunting my growth?


Best answer:

Answer by Mr. O
Yes and no. Caffeine probably doesn't directly stunt growth, or no teenager would be tall :) However, you really should get at least 8 hrs of sleep a day; sleep is when your spinal discs stretch out again and allow for Human Growth Hormone to be released into the body. Sleep is pretty much the only time growth occurs, so it helps to get to bed at a good time. Caffeine makes it harder to sleep, so it indirectly could stunt growth a bit.

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