As a professional strength and conditioning coach, I am extremely wary of 99.99% of all dietary supplements that are on the market, and with good reason, since most of the claims attached to these panaceas are NOT backed up by real scientific proof of efficacy. As the head strength coach of a high school, I am extremely sensitive to any of these products that are marketed towards kids.
A “product” named Heightmax – the makers of which claim can help your child grow – represents a new low in the nutritional supplement industry.
I became aware of this supplement thanks to a satellite radio commercial, and visited their website to see how the marketers of this product would back up their claims.
As a reminder – or a heads up to anyone not already aware of this – makers and marketers of dietary supplements are NOT held to the same standards as the drug companies are. Dietary supplement makers DO NOT have to submit their products to the Food and Drug Administration for approval, and as a matter of fact all supplement advertisements contain a disclaimer that basically says the FDA has not evaluated the claims associated with the particular product advertised.
Here are a few problems with the Heightmax website:
- There is no list of ingredients telling you just what this company wants you to give to your child. The most we're told is that there are two Heightmax formulas; one is a “multi-vitamin and herbal supplement” and one is “an amino acid and mineral supplement.” Other than this, there are no details as to the ingredients.
- There are no details with regards to the scientific studies that allegedly prove that this stuff works. We’re told that clinical studies have been done that indicate growth increases, but there are no details with regards to number of people in the study or any other hint as to the protocols used during these studies.
- The first testimonial on the testimonial page is from the research scientist who is the developer of the Heightmax supplement as well as a part owner of the company. Other testimonials are from a mother of three teenage children, a 17-year-old and three 20-somethings.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Justene
It's my understanding that girls stop growing a year and a half after menarche. So are all these growth products and anecdotal reports of growing concerning boys?
2 - sal m
typically girls have pretty much reached their max height by the age of 15 or 16, but there are tons of variations. just as the onset of the menstrual cycle can vary greatly from girl to girl.
with regards to heightmax, the anecdotal reports include those of a 20 and 24 year old women.
3 - RJ Elliott
I've heard these commercials on the radio as well.
I'm believe they are preying upon concerned middle-aged moms and dads who are on their way to/from work. They hear about how this "product" is "guaranteed" to increase their child's height, and then they think of their poor, pathetic 5' 2" 16-year old boy at home, and in desperation they call the toll-free number...
It's really very sad.
4 - Eric Berlin
Great job, Sal! I'd love to see a column about dietary supplements. After hearing ads on the radio for TrimSpa, I must admit I was tempted to check it out. Never bought it, of course, as I learned you weren't supposed to have caffeine while taking it!
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5 - Kd
Does any of you know of anyone who has tried this product? If not what are some ways to increase height?
6 - pedro
HI i understand what is going the problem of is that im 20 year old and im only 5.1 feet tall now im thinking not to order it what should i do or what must i do? i need your guys or ladies Help.
7 - nim
HI,
i was thinking of ordering this product too till i hit upon some sites where people are saying that this is a scam.
i hit upon this other site www.growtaller.net where they are selling another product, not nutritional supplement, but something to do with growth harmones, MFIII and KIMI ( a device). they seem really convincing, saying its all natural and no side effects. I want to knwo if anyone has tried it! pls let me know if its ok
8 - sal m
human growth hormone can only be administered via injection...any over the counter, oral spray or any other kind of delivery system is a scam and should be avoided.
9 - John
I too am very skeptical of these type of supplements. I did some research on my own. First I compared the contents of Heightmax to Centrum. The items in common I assumed safe and did not do further investigation. The items that were not in common, I did a lot of research. Most of the unique items in Heightmax are minerals. There is sufficient data supporting the benifits of minerals. The other stuff in Heightmax are herbs. There is not alot of western scientific data for the herbs, but the chinese have been using these herbs for thousands of years. The true question, will the combination of herbs, minerals and vitamins add to one's heigth. I can't answer that without sufficient data. What I can say is that Heightmax is at the very least a boosted up vitamin. Do the research yourself. I think it's worth a try.
10 - sal m
heightmax is a scam, through and through...if you want to give your kid a vitamin for health, do so..but don't believe - or let them believe - that a pill can make them grow.
11 - John
Sal-
Please tell me what you think about Gamma-Orynanal, L-Arginine and L-Ornithine. If anything, these seem to be the key contributors to "growth" by using heightmax.
I'm a biomedical engineer with 20 years of FDA experience. I'm looking at this from a scientifc viewpoint.
John
12 - sal m
not being a biomed type, and not having your education or your background, i stick to a simple rule of thumb with these kinds of supplements...without real data to use as proof of efficacy, i don't believe anything that they claim...furthermore, if these ingredients were the keys to growth and could be delivered orally in a derived supplement form, certainly the drug companies would be selling this as a prescription drug.
13 - John
Everyone-
Sal is right. Don't let your kids think by taking this pill they will grow. There is no scientific, non-baised, data supporting growth. Heightmax is a combination of Vitamins, herbs and minerals. Do the research yourself. There is no miracle pill for growth. There are however, vitamins and minerals that will improve your health and provide a better oppurtunity for you to grow to you maximum natural potential. Do the research yourself.
John
14 - sal m
John:
thanks for the endorsement! what i've always tried to get people to understand is that you don't have to be a biochem major in order to properly evaluate these kinds of products. common sense and a bit of a "show me" attitude is all that people need.
the internet makes this kind of self-research very easy to do.
15 - pedro
HI well i have ask one of the workers for Hightmax and i told them if is save. but i dont think so and they said that i dont need my doctor for it....i wonder why they say it is very save that us we dont need doctors. Cause i have a problem cause im really short an im only 5.2 feet tall and im 20 year old...what should i do?
16 - Panee
My daughter tried it for 2 months and it didn't work. I became suspicious when they shipped and billed for 2 months instead of 1. Took them 6 weeks to repond and that's after threatening to report them to my credit card company. And when I asked for a refund based on the Money Back Guarantee posted on their website, they replied that I was over the 30 day limit. That's my experience with Heightmax and I will never order from Sunnyhill Nutrition again. There's a fine print that the product will work if their daily regiment was followed. Very similar to Betacarotene, and that only cost $2 for a 100 day supply vs. $65 for 30.
Panee
17 - sal m
go to this link and file a complaint with the federal trade commission... that's probably the only way that you can get any measure of satisfaction at this point.
18 - Panee
Thanks, Sal, I filled out the form and filed a complaint. I only did it to warn other buyers that Sunny Health Nutrition (corrected name) is a scam.
Panee
19 - mr cr
I tried heightmax for 2 or 3 months...barely any results, if not none at all. I was 19 then.
20 - mr cr
I'm well into my 20th year now. I have gotten noticeably taller in relation to my friends. Maybe an inch or so. I don't know if it's my natural growth or HeightMax
21 - louie
SAL check this KID out !! before you talk about what not to do,his name is Billy Best !!!!
22 - pam
i've just brought height max and then found these reviews so i was very convinced i made the right decision. I also ordered 1 and they sent me two. I have today taken my height which is 5ft 3' and ill let you know how i got on
23 - j
height max is not a miracle pill. wut it does is it helps u get that extra inch or 2 or 3 that u wouldnt get with out the propper nutrion .it will not help u grow like 10 inches but it will help with acouple inches
24 - sal m
j:
um, no it won't. proper nutrition doesn't come in a pill.
25 - EEddie
i heard about this heightmax scam, in a website i dont remember where it was, but in the website the were talking with a doctor and the said something about IGF-1 (insulinlike growth factor-1), that is the only pill or medication that is legal and can make a person get taller .... so i would like to know if some one knows someting about this IGF-1 (insulinlike growth factor-1)
im 19 years old and im 5 foot 7, and i just like to be 2 or 3 inches taller.