bone development

Question
I have an odd question, but i was wanting to know if u can perhaps increase your height and bone development similar to how jockies stunt their growth.  It only makes sense that if u "super-size" your eating habbits during the crutial stages of bone development you can reach your full possible height where if you just eat regularly you may not be that extra half inch.  Also,is it true that runners are taller and if so why. And finally is there any way that extensivly working out during stages of bone development would cause your body to concentrate more on muscle building?  

Answer
Overall, bone growth is influence by both environmental and genetic factors.  In theory, you could influence you bone to become shorter (or possible longer) during time when the growth plates are still in process.  After the growth plates fuse, however, no further bone growth is possible, unless it is pathological (tumor, etc.)

Eating habits will probable influence bones to develop to the maximum genetic program, whereas if you withhold certain nutrients (calcium and vit D), bones do not mature to their full potential.  I would not expect "super-sizing" your diet to influence your bone growth without the genetic predisposition or program already present.  Put another way, you can't take someone who has come from a family of petite individuals and make them into a giant by overfeeding them.  They will get fat, but not tall.

Not all runners are tall.  If you look at those people that run marathons and do well, they are often relatively small.  That is not to say that tall people don't run marathons, but overall the sports that people excel in are usually sports that take advantage of their particular body type and size.  The same could be said for basketball, you don't see 5'4" pro basketball players.

Same goes for muscle building.  The petite jockey you refer to will never be Arnold Schwartenegger, no matter how much iron they pump.  There is always some degree of genetic predisposition that exerts some influence.  Most can overcome this because we sit in the middle, i.e. have average builds and heights, and therefore have more flexibility in what we can develop into.  

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