How to Accurately Measure Your Height?
Saravanan "Sharu" Hariram
August 27, 2021
Saravanan "Sharu" Hariram
August 27, 2021
You have probably been getting your height measured right from the times when you were a child. Measuring height is an important metric for proper growth and is usually part of a standard routine. It is also an integral part of a medical check-up. We usually need to measure the height for other non-medical reasons like getting clothes, placing mirrors, etc.
Average height can vary based on several factors. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a person’s height is affected by:
Here are a few methods to help you measure your height.
Following are the few methods which can be used to measure height.
The metallic sliding device that you find at a doctor’s office is called a stadiometer. It is the most accurate and convenient way to measure your height. There are few simple steps that need to be followed to measure height using a stadiometer:
Just like the rest of us, if you are at home due to the pandemic, chances are you don’t have access to a stadiometer. Worry not, a measuring tape, and the book will suffice. Here’s what you need to do:
Some tape measures have centimetres on one side and inches on the other. If the tape measure has only one type of measurement, it may be necessary to convert them depending on why a person needs the measurement.
For example, if a person needs the height measurements to calculate body mass index (BMI) and is not sure whether they need imperial or metric measurements, they should record both numbers and then convert if necessary.
A person can use the following formulas of conversions:
Inches to centimetres: multiply height in inches by 2.54
Centimetres to inches: divide height in centimetres by 2.54
Many calculators have a conversion capability. To help with conversion, note that 1 ft = 12 inches or 30.48 cm. Therefore, someone who measures 5ft 4in will be 64 inches, or 162.56 cm tall.
Height depends on various factors like genetics, nutrition and so on. Height plays an important role in shaping your overall personality. However, do not feel insecure if you are too short or too tall. One should embrace the body they are born with. A person with short height is as beautiful and powerful as someone who is amazingly tall. Your height does not decide your capabilities, rather it is your talent and character that matters.
So be proud of your height. Eat a healthy diet, exercise and maintain a good body weight. Sometimes, weight can also hamper height and make you look even shorter. Keep your weight in check to enhance your height. A slim body automatically looks tall and appealing. You can also experiment with your clothing styles and footwear to add a few inches to your height. These are some of the ways you can enhance your height for certain special occasions.
Also, keep in mind that the above measuring methods are rudimentary and the final measurement will give you an approximate measurement of your height. We hope you find these methods useful when you measure your height the next time.
1. A Guide on How to Increase Height
2. Height Weight Chart: Ideal Weight for Men and Women
A. There are a plethora of health implications for measuring height, which varies from when you are a baby to old age. In infants and growing children, increasing height is an important milestone and indicator of healthy growth. Height in adults is most commonly taken to measure BMI, which is short for Body Mass Index. Abnormal height also points to spinal deformities like a hunchback, often seen as age advances.
A. Yes, height measured at home if done correctly is largely accurate, with usually a margin of error of only one or two centimetres.
A. We ideally recommend using a metallic tape measure that will remain straight when you measure your height.
A. There is no best time to measure height. However, it is widely believed that a person is at their tallest in the morning when they first wake and gradually loses some height throughout the day. Therefore, it is a good idea to measure your height in the morning to get an accurate measure of your height.
A. Height depends on genetics and lifestyle. Though one cannot change the height of a person, certain foods can support growth in young children. Carrots, berries, quinoa, almonds, beans, chicken, fish, oatmeal, grains, eggs, banana, milk and tofu can help to increase your height. A well-balanced diet rich in fibre, protein, calcium, minerals and vitamins is essential for the proper growth of children.