CID actor Parth Samthaan says he lost 32 kilos in four months at the age of 16, credits aerobics for gaining height: ‘According to my family's average…'; expert disagrees

Indian Express

25-06-2025

CID actor Parth Samthaan recently opened up about weighing 110 kilos as a child before he had a transformation with aerobics. 'I was 110 kilos in my childhood, and I was short. Then I had a transformation. I lost 32 kilos within four months. All thanks to cardio. It was aerobics at that time. I did a lot of aerobics. There was no gym. I did running and diet,' the 34-year-old told comedian Bharti Singh and her screenwriter husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their YouTube podcast.
That, he said, helped him 'shoot up my height also'. 'I was 5'7″…I went straight up to 6′, 6'11'. It was at 16-17 years of age. So, I motivate a lot of people to do cardio, cycling, swimming in the age range of 15-18 years. According to my family's average height, I should have been 5'9″, 5'10'. But all these helped me reach 6'11',' added Samthaan, who was also seen in Kasautii Zindagii Kay season 2.
Taking a cue from his transformation, we turned to an expert to learn more.
Losing 32 kg in four months is extreme but not impossible, said Varun Rattan, founder of Evolve Fitness.
'Intense calorie deficit and rigorous activity can lead to rapid weight loss. But it often comes at the cost of muscle mass, metabolic slowdown, nutritional deficiencies, and psychological stress,' said Rattan, who also specialises in nutritional sciences.
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However, Rattan said the 'most misleading part is the claim that aerobics caused him to grow taller'. 'Height growth during adolescence is controlled by a combination of diet, genetics, hormones, and the natural closing of growth plates in the long bones. While exercise can support natural growth by stimulating hormones, it cannot override your genetic blueprint. Growing 5 to 6 inches in 4 to 5 months is unusual but still possible during the peak of puberty, especially in boys. But attributing this sudden vertical leap to aerobics is misleading,' contended Rattan.
He also pointed out that the 'unintended message such claims might send can be of serious concern'. 'Implying that intense cardio can lead not just to weight loss but also to increased height may push overweight teenagers into unsustainable and harmful habits. The state of chronic energy deficiency paired with excessive cardio can actually impair growth due to nutritional deficiency,' said Rattan.
'No amount of aerobics will stretch your DNA,' he concluded.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.