<p><strong>No.</strong> That coffee (or caffeine or anything else in coffee) would stunt growth is a <strong><em>debunked myth.</em></strong></p>

<p>Here's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/18/health/the-claim-drinking-coffee-can-stunt-a-childs-growth.html">an article from the New York Times</a> that cites a small university study that showed no relation in bone density/gain in adolescents. Another article <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/its-a-myth-theres-no-evidence-that-coffee-stunts-kids-growth-180948068/">from Smithsonian</a> cites the same article and a few other studies from the NIH and others that show very little impact of caffeine / coffee on related growth factors, the other factors which are largely explained by other factors (e.g., sugar or other stuff from other types of beverages).</p>

<p>That said, caffeine and other chemicals in coffee have certain other effects, and certain people are sensitive. Here's a related article about some <a href="http://udel.edu/~danikoll/Factormyth.html"><em>other</em> coffee myths</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-14T23:54:42.740Z
I upvoted this, but that link for other coffee myths is shaky at best.  Caffeine is most certainly a physically addictive substance; withdrawal symptoms are pretty much the definition of this.  Most users will have some psychological addiction as well ("I'm useless without my morning coffee.").  Caffeine is used in neonates to help them breathe, it is better tolerated than most other breathing treatments and would likely still be used if stunted long term growth was possible as a result because the benefit (of breathing) outweighs the risks.
Suspended User
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-14T23:58:56.750Z
It also doesn't mention that children are generally more sensitive to behavioral changes from caffeine because they are usually caffeine naive.        They end up with very similar reactions to any adult that is caffeine naive and gets "all jazzed up" from a dose (in whatever form).
Suspended User
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-14T18:03:27.380Z
2015-12-14T18:03:27.380Z
hoc_age
<p>I have heard that coffee (or other chemicals such as caffeine in it) can actually prevent you from growing. Is this really true?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-14T05:50:11.090Z
Souces, please? "I have heard" can mean everything from a speech at Stanford to your Granny's tales...
Stephie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-17T22:54:13.800Z
Ha! True, my mom (I still live with my mom) is kinda concerned with it. I wanted to know if this is really effecting my health or not.
Major Tom
<chemistry>
Does coffee really stunt your growth?
Major Tom
# Does coffee really stunt your growth?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-13)

I have heard that coffee (or other chemicals such as caffeine in it) can actually prevent you from growing. Is this really true?

**Tags:** chemistry

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Souces, please? "I have heard" can mean everything from a speech at Stanford to your Granny's tales...  
> **username_0**: Ha! True, my mom (I still live with my mom) is kinda concerned with it. I wanted to know if this is really effecting my health or not.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-12-14. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

**No.** That coffee (or caffeine or anything else in coffee) would stunt growth is a ***debunked myth.***

Here's [an article from the New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/18/health/the-claim-drinking-coffee-can-stunt-a-childs-growth.html) that cites a small university study that showed no relation in bone density/gain in adolescents. Another article [from Smithsonian](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/its-a-myth-theres-no-evidence-that-coffee-stunts-kids-growth-180948068/) cites the same article and a few other studies from the NIH and others that show very little impact of caffeine / coffee on related growth factors, the other factors which are largely explained by other factors (e.g., sugar or other stuff from other types of beverages).

That said, caffeine and other chemicals in coffee have certain other effects, and certain people are sensitive. Here's a related article about some [*other* coffee myths](http://udel.edu/~danikoll/Factormyth.html).

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I upvoted this, but that link for other coffee myths is shaky at best.  Caffeine is most certainly a physically addictive substance; withdrawal symptoms are pretty much the definition of this.  Most users will have some psychological addiction as well ("I'm useless without my morning coffee.").  Caffeine is used in neonates to help them breathe, it is better tolerated than most other breathing treatments and would likely still be used if stunted long term growth was possible as a result because the benefit (of breathing) outweighs the risks.  
> **username_3**: It also doesn't mention that children are generally more sensitive to behavioral changes from caffeine because they are usually caffeine naive.        They end up with very similar reactions to any adult that is caffeine naive and gets "all jazzed up" from a dose (in whatever form).  

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