What Is Short Stature? Short stature is a general term for people whose height is considerably below average, as compared to the height of their peers. While it can apply to adults, the term is most often used in reference to children. A child can be significantly shorter than his or her friends and still be perfectly healthy. This is particularly true if both parents are also shorter than average. Genetics is a major determinant of height. However, short stature can indicate an underlying medical problem. In these cases, many children can grow to a normal height with proper treatment. For others, short stature may be permanent.