A father in Changsha, Hunan, has been paying 6,000 yuan (about US$880) a month for growth hormone injections for his 12‑year‑old daughter, sparking an online debate about height anxiety in China.
According to the South China Morning Post and mainland media outlet Dazhong Daily, the 12‑year‑old had previously grown only two to three centimetres per year before starting the treatment. The father, surnamed Li, continues to fund the injections, which are reportedly improving her growth rate.
The case has drawn attention to societal pressures around height in China and raises questions about the use of medical interventions for cosmetic or non‑medically necessary reasons.