A 15-year-old boy from Zhengzhou, Henan,was diagnosed with permanen stunted growth after doctors found that his growth plates had already closed, a condition believed to be caused by years of staying up late to play with his phone.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the boy stands at only 138cm, far below China’s height standard for boys his age, which ranges from 160.5cm to 185cm.
His parents brought him to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, where Dr. Huo examined him and revealed that the teenager’s bone age had exceeded normal levels.
Late-night gaming blamed
Doctors found that the teenager had a long-term habit of secretly staying up late to scroll on his phone, watch videos, and play mobile games, sometimes all the way until morning.
There is no more room for growth. His height has essentially been fixed for the rest of his life,” said Dr Huo.
He also believes this disrupted sleep pattern was the main reason for his stunted height.
Why sleep matters for growth
Dr. Huo explained that children grow with the help of growth hormones, which are released in significantly higher amounts during specific sleep windows:
- 10pm to 1am
- 5am to 6am
During these periods, growth hormone secretion can be two to four times higher than during the day. Staying awake late into the night disrupts this hormonal cycle, directly affecting physical development.
He also advised parents not to let children sleep with the lights on, as light exposure can interfere with melatonin production, which in turn affects the release of growth hormones.
