Chinese Teen's 1.4cm Height Gain From Therapy Reverts in Two Weeks

A 16-year-old boy in Xiamen, China, underwent a six-month body-lengthening therapy costing around $2,350, which temporarily increased his height from 165 cm to 166.4 cm. However, within two weeks of completing the treatment, he reverted to his original height. The therapy involved leg stretching and using medical equipment to stimulate the knees, but the clinic later refunded the payment, stating the boy was "too old" for the treatment to be effective. Medical experts, including endocrinologist Dr. Wu Xueyan, have criticized such forced stretching as unscientific, noting that any height gain is temporary and similar to normal daily spinal height variations. Dr. Wu emphasized that natural growth through exercise, good sleep, and genetics is the only reliable way to increase height. The case highlights the ineffectiveness and questionable claims of body-lengthening treatments for teenagers past certain growth stages.