Behind the Myth: Exercise to Increase Your Height?
Behind the Myth: Exploring Korean Tradition
This series of articles will shed light on some Korean myths, folklore, traditions and superstitions. Every country has their own share of beliefs, fact or fiction, and many foreigners living in Korea have not yet heard or do not yet understand the basis of various Korean beliefs that may be different from their own.
Exercise Right to Increase Your Height?
How many people wish they were shorter? The answer (most likely) is very few, because there are numerous benefits to being tall. The majority wish they were taller, just like Skee-lo said in his 1995 hit song “I Wish” I was a little bit taller….
This month’s Korean myth deals with a person’s height. In Korea, many people believe playing basketball, jumping rope, stretching and other physical exercises can help you grow taller. If you happen to be tall, you will already be good at those activities. If you’re on the short side, then countless games of hoops or double dutch will eventually lead to a growth spurt. Go ahead and ask a Korean friend if they know that exercise will make someone taller. Their reply will probably be along the lines of “Sure, I knew that!”
Actually, a person’s height is almost totally determined by genetics. Usually a person’s height is similar to their own parents. When someone is much shorter or taller than their parents, chances are they have a grandparent that shares the same trait. It just skipped a generation or two before it was passed on to later offspring. Another outside chance, when a person finds themselves with different physical characteristics than their parents, is that their father is not actually their biological father.
There are some other factors that could affect a person’s height. One being nutrition. In most developed countries, such as Korea, one need not worry about their food affecting their height. They will grow to their natural height as long as they don’t sustain years of harmful malnourishment. How important, then, is exercise in relation to growth? It’s true that movement and exercise helps the cardio vascular system and muscles to remain healthy and strong. It also releases hormones beneficial to health, but it doesn’t change nature’s intended plan for one’s height. It’s possible to appear taller when working out and being physically fit. If one actually strived to “heighten their height” the results would be temporary. If someone wants to try stretching on a device like a medieval torture rack, let us know how that works out. Also, this commentary excludes the practice of surgery to enhance someone’s height.
What’s most interesting is how a myth like this got started in the first place. The desire to be taller needs no explanation, but when (or why) did someone start preaching that we can change our height? More of a mystery is why people still believe it’s true. What’s also surprising is if this particular belief is widely accepted, why don’t we see more Korean children with a strict regimen of strenuous stretching exercises throughout their school days? We see, instead, many students overburdened with an insane amount of studying. Perhaps they are trying to stretch their brains.