Despite improvements, the average height of Vietnamese people remains among the shortest in the world and still lags behind many Asian countries.

Speaking at a recent nutrition conference organized by the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, Dr. Truong Hong Son, Director of the Institute, shared that Vietnam has seen significant progress in reducing child stunting rates - from 50% to 20%. Yet, nearly 50% of children still do not meet the height standards for their age.

Short stature impacts more than appearance

In an interview with VietNamNet, Dr. Son emphasized that being short does not only affect physical appearance, but also increases the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, joint diseases, and obesity. For instance, a person weighing 60 kg with a height of 1.70 m has a normal BMI, but at 1.50 m, they would fall into the overweight category. Obesity is now among the top three risk factors for rising NCDs in Vietnam.

Recent studies show that the average height of Vietnamese young men is 168.1 cm and women 156.2 cm. Over the past decade, male height increased by 3.7 cm and female height by 1.4 cm.

On the global height chart, Vietnam ranks 153 out of 201 countries. In Southeast Asia, however, it has climbed to fourth place - a notable leap from the lower half of the region just ten years ago.

Still, Vietnamese men remain significantly shorter than the global average of 176.1 cm for men and 163.1 cm for women. Thus, Vietnam remains in the “short stature” group.

Missing growth milestones can’t be regained

While a child’s genetic makeup defines a potential height range, reaching the upper end of that range largely depends on nutrition.

Dr. Son gave an example: if the father is 1.68 m tall and the mother is 1.56 m - close to the national averages - their son could grow to be between 1.68 and 1.74 m. To reach the upper limit, critical factors include nutrition, environment and illness exposure, physical activity, and sleep quality.

Nutrition programs and improved living conditions have helped boost Vietnamese height over the last two decades, but obstacles remain.

Low birth weights and widespread micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women are common. Many families still focus only on ensuring children eat enough to gain weight, without prioritizing essential micronutrients that support height development.

Another critical mistake is missing the “golden periods” of growth. “Height development typically stops by age 19. The most important windows are the first 1,000 days (from conception to age two), the preschool years, and puberty. Missing any of these phases means permanently losing growth potential,” Dr. Son warned.

Doctors recommend ensuring children get sufficient essential minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, D, and K2 to support optimal growth.

“To absorb calcium properly, you need vitamin D - especially D3. Once in the bloodstream, vitamin K2 plays a vital role in directing calcium to the bones,” Dr. Son explained.

Nutrition experts advise parents to provide a diverse diet. Vitamin D is found in eggs and milk; vitamin K2 is abundant in fermented foods like Japan’s natto and is also present in chicken, duck, and goose meat, though in smaller quantities. In some cases, supplements may be needed.

However, Dr. Son cautioned that any supplementation should be guided by a healthcare professional. Parents should avoid unregulated products with unknown origins, as poor storage conditions - like exposure to light or heat - can affect quality and potency.

Vo Thu