Are two inches in height worth the price?

 So, you have a child who is short but healthy, (such as constitutional delay or idiopathic short stature) would you pay to increase his/her height?  If so,  how much would you fork over?  Is the sky the limit?  Would you pay say $10,000 per inch of height? $20,000? How about $30,000?   


 What if I were to tell you that an increase in height for two inches will probably cost you $100,000? Would that give you pause?  This is how much pharmaceutical companies charge for growth hormone for children who are short but healthy.  an average of $20,000/year.
                                  
   Now,  you also have to take into account the fact that there are risks of side effects;  Leukemia, diabetes, heart disease, oversized bones.  Still considering it?  Another caveat, the pediatric endocrinologist can’t guarantee any height increase at all or, if there is one, how can they prove it is a result of growth hormone injections and not natural growth?


 You may also consider the fact that your child, who, though short, is not suffering from an actual growth hormone deficiency.   If his ample supply of HGH isn’t helping the growth process, why would injecting your child with more of what he already has matter?

 
 Something else interesting:  Since the average height of a woman in the US is 5’4”, when she decides to put them heels on she is 5’6” or 5’7” and they usually want a man a couple of inches taller than that.  So, a man of 5’9” or 5’10” would be the minimum height allowable.  So, even if  your child does grow a couple of inches past his projected height…maybe will end up being 5’6” or 5’7”…the average, vain woman will look the other way…and let’s not get into the job market.


How telling it is on how short people are viewed, especially short males, that parents are willing to fork over mountains of cash for the slim hope their child will grow, maybe, two more inches at the end of their growth cycle.


 One more thing parents:   Giving your child growth hormone can also, likely speed up the pubertal process, which will mean that  their bones will fuse together sooner and therefore robbing him or her of a year or two of growth. Thought I would toss that in.  Still worth it?