It could be. A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep.
6 hours sleep may be sufficient for some muscle growth but you may find your gains come more quickly by aiming for between 7 and 9 hours sleep each night. Most people average around 7.5 but experiment a little if you're able and find the optimal sleeping pattern for you.
Short answer - no, it will PROMOTE your ability to reach your genetically programmed height. TLDR - even poor sleep habits won't necessarily stunt growth if all other factors are accounted for.
Once we are at the end of our puberty period, our hormonal changes prompt the growth plate to close off. Once that's closed off or sealed, no amount of sleeping will help us get taller any more. According to Healthline.com, the growth plates close at around 16 for women and somewhere between 14 and 19 for men.
Here's the long answer...
Although everybody is different, most adults need about 7-8 hours of sleep a day. Young children generally sleep as much as they need very naturally — they get cranky when tired. Teenagers may need up to 10 hours of sleep to help them grow and learn!
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While most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, some adults average five or fewer hours of sleep each night. While it may seem like enough sleep, regularly getting only five hours of sleep each night may lead to sleep deprivation.
Get Enough Sleep
All teens need at least 8 ½ to 9 hours of sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. During sleep, growth hormone circulates at its peak, helping your teen's body grow.
Increasing your height after 18 is not possible, even through nutrition and exercise, because the growth plates stop growing. The growth plates (epiphyseal plates) are present at the end of long bones.
Musk wasn't a “chill, normal dude,” as he once joked on “Saturday Night Live.” Mr. Musk has said he usually goes to sleep around 3 a.m. and typically gets six hours of shut-eye before waking and immediately checking his phone for any new emergencies.
Getting only six hours of sleep each night is considered a poor sleep schedule that can result in sleep deprivation and lead to poor mental health and potential sleep disorders. You can survive on six hours of sleep but that would not be good for your long-term health.
Adults. The recommended number of hours is 7 to 9 hours, with 6 hours or 10 hours of sleep deemed appropriate on either side. It is not a good idea to get 6 hours or less of sleep.
Changes in Boys
The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop.
The most direct causes are inadequate nutrition (not eating enough or eating foods that lack growth-promoting nutrients) and recurrent infections or chronic or diseases which cause poor nutrient intake, absorption or utilization. Then there is the lack of care and stimulation for development…
The actual spurt was then smaller and, moreover, puberty occurred earlier. In the category of children with lower BMI and later onset of puberty, the spurt was all the stronger. Those whose puberty was delayed also had several extra years to grow in, and quite simply ended up taller.
For most adults, there is no known negative impact to getting seven hours of sleep. But given that seven hours is the minimum that is recommended, sleeping only this amount does not leave much margin for difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep.
What can I do to become taller? Taking good care of yourself — eating well, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest — is the best way to stay healthy and help your body reach its natural potential. There's no magic pill for increasing height. In fact, your genes are the major determinant of how tall you'll be.
Lack of sleep can significantly impact your daytime safety and performance. Studies have shown that you lose brain and body function when you deprive yourself of as few as 1-2 hours of sleep. You may even experience micro-sleep if you get fewer than six hours of sleep.
As mentioned in one of the articles one good way to see if you still have growth potential is to X-ray a wrist- the test is called a Pediatric Bone Age. It will show if your growth plates are still open. A doctor can also request lab tests- checking for hormones- such as thyroid, growth hormone and sex hormones.
A common height myth is that certain exercises or stretching techniques can make you taller. Many people believe that activities like barbell training, rock climbing, and swimming can increase height. However, there is no evidence or research on the effects of these exercises on height growth after adulthood.