What Factors affect growth and development in humans?

Genes, diet, environmental factors all affect human growth and development. Also living conditions can also affect ones development.

Parenting styles have a tremendous impact on human growth and development. Authoritative parenting style makes the child responsible, encourages autonomy and independence.
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• Heredity: our the genes we received from our parents are the most important factor the influences our growth and development. For instance there is a relationship to the height of a child and the heights of his parents. If you have tall parents, you are more likely to be taller than the average as an adults. Intelligence is another important growth factor. Low grade intelligence is associated with retardation, slow learng and poor performance. On the other hand, high grade intelligence is associated with acceleration, quick learning and Excellent performance.Sex is also important, boys are slightly bigger then girls. But when the process of growth sets in after birth, girls exhibit rapid growth and attain full size earlier than boys.
• External factors (nutrition and general lifestyle): Much of the physical growth depends partly upon such environmental factors as sunlight, fresh air, conditions of climate and partly' upon food and nutrition. A well-balanced diet has a positive effect on the growth and development of a child. A balanced diet should include all essential nutrients like carbs, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.
• Hormones: most of the hormones are involved in growth and development but some of them have a very special role when it comes to growth and development.

  - Growth hormone: made by the pituitary gland, released in the bloodstream to travel to body tissue. It stimulates the production of insulin-like growth factor I, or IGF-I.

  - Thyroid hormone or thyroxine: produced in the thyroid gland, plays an important role in the growth and development of the brain and affects metabolism.

  - Androgens (like testosterone): male-type sex hormones made by the adrenal gland or testes, in girls produced in small amounts in the ovaries. Those hormones trigger the growth of hair in the armpits and genital regions of both boys and girls at puberty. Testosterone in particular is important for the sexual development and maturation of boys.

  - Estrogens: the female-type sex hormones made by the ovaries and are responsible to trigger breast development and the sexual maturation process that results in menstrual periods; smaller amounts are made by the testes in boys.

  - Cortisol: produced in the adrenal gland and helps to maintain a normal blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Cortisol is released into the bloodstream at higher levels in response to physical stresses such as infection, fever, injury, surgery, and also severe emotional stress.

  - Insulin: produced by the pancreas, helps the body to use sugars and starches (carbs) for energy. Balances the blood sugar level.

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