Does coffee doesn't stunt growth

Question

The claim that coffee stunts your growth is a common myth, especially told to children or teens. However, according to several medical and scientific sources, there’s no solid evidence that coffee consumption affects height or growth in adolescents or adults. One reliable source is John Hopkins Medicine, which explains that while caffeine can temporarily interfere with calcium absorption, the effect is minimal and does not lead to stunted growth if you have a balanced diet. Here's a direct quote from them: “There’s no evidence that coffee or caffeine stunts a person’s growth. This myth probably began because caffeine can slightly reduce calcium absorption, but not nearly enough to affect growth.”

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-caffeine-question-myths-and-facts

Answer 1

From doing my research, I have come to agree that coffee doesn't stunt your health. According to Harvard Health Publishing, "There is no scientifically valid evidence to suggest that coffee can stunt a person's growth". The article continues to say that it is a myth that coffee causes osteoporosis, which is a condition related to loss of height. The theory that coffee stunts your health is false, as people start drinking coffee usually after they have reached full growth in their teenage years. Another source I found to back up my claim is from the Cleveland Clinic, the article states, "The answer to this one is simple: Caffeine doesn't impact growth," coming from pediatric endocrinologist Roy Kim, MD. The article continues to say that other factors affect kids' heights. These include genetics, getting enough calories, and growth diseases. Overall, the claim that coffee stunts growth is a myth and shouldn't be taken seriously.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=Separating%20Truth%20from%20Fiction,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-coffee-stunt-growth

Answer 2

I agree with the claim that coffee doesn't stunt growth. The sources you provided are reliable, and information from Johns Hopkins ' website is sourced from knowledgeable people! However, the second source you offered doesn't make as strong an argument for the claim. Since "The Roasterie Coffee Company" is a coffee company and of course, they will claim that coffee doesn't stunt growth. It also used sources from the Mayo Clinic, which is a highly credible website. However, the article itself did not make any claims about whether coffee stunts growth or not.

A better article to back up the claim is from the Harvard Health Publishing Website. It stated that there is no scientific evidence that coffee stunts growth. Coffee does not cause osteoporosis, and osteoporosis does not make you short. Additionally, coffee does not affect our ability to absorb calcium.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

Answer 3

While coffee/caffeine consumption may not directly stunt a child's growth. The concern comes from the indirect impacts, such as disrupted sleep, if the caffeine is consumed later in the day. This article explains that if caffeine is consumed in the morning, there will likely be no sleep implications. But when consumed later in the day, it could affect their sleep schedule, causing sleep deprivation, and not allowing the child's growth hormones to work as they should.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-drinking-coffee-stunt-growth-in-children-by-affecting-sleep-3947784

Answer 4

I agree with your claim as through my research I found that there is no evidence that coffee can stunt growth or cause a loss in height. According to a article done by health.havard.edu, there is no scientific evidence that coffee contributes to stunted growth or causes osteoporosis. The article states that the misconception started with people believing that coffee causes osteoporosis, which can reduce a persons height. There has been evidence however that coffee can increase the body's elimination of calcium. However, the article argues this point by stating, "But the effect of caffeine on calcium excretion is small. And the link between coffee consumption and osteoporosis was never confirmed." Coffee actually has several health benefits as caffeine can enhance athletic performance and coffee can reduce the risk of many diseases. However, caffeine can cause a person to shift from normal sleeping patterns, which can promote growth. Coffee doesn't have a direct link to a loss of height but causing reduced sleep could lead to a person not recovering fully.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_negative_effects_of_coffee/article.htm

Comments

I thought this was a great fact check, you have a good source to back up your claim, one that is a medical source and you have ample amount of evidence from this source. I wrote about a similar article about how coffee does not bring on osteoporosis, and I thought you analyzed everythign very well.

Answer 5

The claim that coffee stunts your growth is definitely a popular myth, especially told to kids or teens. But when you actually stop and investigate the source, it doesn't hold up. One of the most reliable sources on this is Johns Hopkins Medicine, which is a well-respected medical institution. They state clearly: "There's no evidence that coffee or caffeine stunts a person's growth. This myth probably began because caffeine can slightly reduce calcium absorption, but not nearly enough to affect growth." So, they acknowledge where the myth may have started, but also clarify that it's not backed by science.

If you look for better coverage, other trustworthy sources back this up too- places like Harvard Health and the Mayo Clinic say the same thing. They all agree that while caffeine might reduce calcium absorption a little, it doesn't have a serious impact if someone has a balanced diet and enough calcium.

And if you trace the quote from Johns Hopkins back to its original context, it comes straight from their official wellness page-not taken out of context or twisted. On the flip side, sites like the Roasterie (a coffee company) also claim the myth is false, but since they sell coffee, their info might be biased, even if it's still accurate in this case.

So, when you apply that method of checking the source, comparing coverage, and tracing the original quote, it's pretty clear: coffee doesn't stunt your growth

Harvard Health Publishing. (2012, February). Caffeine and health. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/caffeine-and-health

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). The caffeine question: myths and facts. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-caffeine-question- myths-and-facts

Mayo Clinic. (2021, March 6). Caffeine: How much is too much? https:www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/caffeine/faq-20058459

The Roasterie. (n.d.). Myth or fact: Does coffee stunt your growth? https://theroaterie.com/blogs/news/myth-or-fact-does-coffee-stunt-your-growth

Answer 6

I agree that the claim that coffee doesn't stunt your growth is true. It is a myth that has been believed for years, while also proved time and time agin through scientific research. According to Harvard Health, a supplementary article I found to this one, there is no proven scientific evidence that ingesting coffee does anything to change a person's height. This belief could be started from the misconception that coffee causes osteoporosis, which could eventually lead to height loss. However, this is untrue because coffee has no affect or direct cause in osteoporosis (Harvard Health 2020). While directly drinking coffee isn't going to make you shorter, ingesting too much caffeine can cause serious health issues if one is not careful.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

Answer 7

Here’s a combined and streamlined version of your points into one thoughtful, well-sourced paragraph:

The claim that coffee stunts growth is a myth, and medical consensus agrees there's no direct link between caffeine and reduced height. Johns Hopkins Medicine confirms that while caffeine can slightly reduce calcium absorption, it’s not enough to affect growth in individuals with a balanced diet. However, the myth’s persistence may stem from broader concerns—particularly around sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, caffeine can delay sleep onset and reduce deep sleep, both of which are essential for growth hormone release during adolescence. So while coffee doesn’t shrink anyone, excessive caffeine—especially when consumed late in the day—can disrupt sleep patterns in teens, potentially interfering with healthy development. A more accurate message might be: “Coffee doesn’t stunt growth—but poor sleep from too much caffeine might.” (Harvard Health, Sleep Foundation).

Answer 8

Does coffee stunt growth? The claim that it does is not true. A reliable source being Harvard Medical School found in their research that, "There is no scientifically valid evidence to suggest that coffee can stunt a person's growth" (Harvard Medical School, 2020). People who developed this myth believed that coffee would lead to osteoporosis which would lead to a loss of height but Harvard busted the myth that coffee leads to osteoporosis. Caffeine affects kids who are growing in certain ways but not directly affecting growth. In another reliable source from Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Kim confirmed that "Caffeine does not meaningfully impact how tall a child gets" (Living Healthy, 2022). Dr. Kim did find caffeine to be an appetite suppressant which could make kids eat less but it won't translate into a meaningful impact on child growth. Knowing that could explain how people began to believe this myth. Both sources were from top of the line institutions and verified by professionals making them credible and therefore proving the claim false.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-coffee-stunt-growth

Answer 9

The claim that coffee stunts people's growth is a popular misconception, particularly for kids and teens, but there is no strong evidence that supports this. As stated by Johns Hopkins Medicine, “There’s no evidence that coffee or caffeine stunts a person’s growth”. Multiple other health sources agree. Such as, Healthline points out that no studies have found a connection between drinking coffee and being shorter, also the Cleveland Clinic supports there’s no evidence that caffeine affects how tall you are. Even though drinking too much coffee can lead to problems like trouble sleeping or feeling jittery, it doesn’t impact your height.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/does-coffee-stunt-growth 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-coffee-stuntgrowth 

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/caffeine-has-positive-effect-on-memory 

Answer 10

While it is true that coffee specifically doesn't stunt you growth, caffeine, the leading psychostimulant in adults, has its individual affects on the body. Caffeinated beverages can lead to loss of sleep, abnormal heart rhythms and higher anxiety. A study from the Cleveland Health Clinic shows how the leading factors of stunted growth are genetics, insufficient calorie intake and growth disorders. No where to be seen in this article is coffee so this myth is fortunately debunked.