Does depression stunt growth?

[LeBeauPrince]

I used to suffer from depression when I was a teenager, sleep on average 2-3 hours a night at the age of 11-17 and had a poor nutrition (consumed more carbs and less protein and vitamins (meat, fish and vegetables). Now I'm 5'6" despite having a 5'9" father and 5'5" younger sister.

How bad did it hurt me?

[LeBeauPrince]

How do you define "stunt growth to a minor degree"?

Regardless of whether my height is good or not, I still regret that I never reached my maximum potential height.

[Fragmented_Mine]

5'6" sounds like a good height ... I had a tall father [5'9"-something] and a short mother [5'3"]. I ended up topping off at 5'4".

But yes, your eating and sleeping habits can influence your development, especially with the eating. I wouldn't say it stunts growth to a *major* degree, but to a minor one and dealing more with other development, yes. The body needs certain nutrients to be at its best growing up; lack of certain things can cause a person to have such things like cognitive issues [memory for one], digestive issues [an imbalance as an adult], stunted metabolism [makes it hard to change or stimulate it], and other things.

That's more biological though, from poor nutrition, which, yes, depression can lead to. The worst results from depression as a child/teen though, have resounding effects in of course self-esteem, family/friendship relations, etc.

Hope this helps!