DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and an only child living with my parents. About a month ago I was searching for something in the attic when I discovered an old photo album. As I looked through the photos, I saw several pictures of my parents when they were younger and there was a little girl in the picture with them. One photo had both my mom's name and my dad's name and the name Charlotte for the little girl who looked about 2 years old. There were other photos taken over several years also showing her up to about 5 or 6 years old. Then there were no other photos of her, and I'm wondering if she was my sister and maybe something happened to her. (They have never mentioned her to me, and I know nothing about having a sister.)

How can I find out about this? Do I tell my parents I found some photos and wonder if the little girl is related to me? And if so, what happened to her? I hesitate because I recall that as a child my parents were very protective of me. They never let me play in the snow like other kids my age and if I caught even a tiny cold they rushed me to the doctor. They seemed to be very worried that I would become ill.

I'm wondering if it would be better to ask my grandmother (my father's mother), because I'm sure she would know all about this Charlotte and what happened to her. Then maybe I could avoid upsetting my parents. I would really like to know about this, and I have been wondering about it for some time. I do think I should know if this child is a relative or not. — Nameless, Davenport, Iowa.

NAMELESS: Simply tell your parents that you were in the attic looking for something when you found a photo album with pictures of a child named Charlotte. Show them the photo and ask them if she is their child and what happened to her. Ask all of your questions, and if you are not satisfied with the answers, then feel free to ask your grandmother about Charlotte.

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding her, you should know all the facts. A child's life — and perhaps death — should not be hidden from a sibling. If your parents were waiting until you were "old enough" to tell you, clearly that time is now.

HEIGHT IS PRIMARILY GOVERNED BY HEREDITY

DR. WALLACE: I'm 12 and a little bit below average height for my age. I live with my grandparents. I have been with them since I was 4, so I consider them to be my parents. My grandmother is a really good cook, but I'm just not a big eater. I like what she cooks, but I only eat a minimum of what she thinks I should eat. I never leave the table hungry but she always says, "Why don't you finish your meal so you can grow nice and tall?"

I'm only 12, and I figure I'll keep growing for a few years, but I don't want to end up being a shrimp, either. Would I really grow taller if I ate more? — Jonathan, Goshen, Ind.

JONATHAN: I wasn't quite sure of the answer, so I reviewed a five-year study by the University of Pittsburgh to determine if the amount of food a person eats influences growth and eventual height.

The conclusion: Children who did not overeat grew to the same height as those who did overeat. The only difference was that the children who overate had a higher percentage of obesity.

The research team is convinced that a person's final height is governed primarily by heredity. It was also noted that severe malnutrition could contribute to a stunted growth pattern. In the United States the tendency is for people to overeat rather than suffer from malnutrition.

Make sure your daily diet is full of nutritious fruits and vegetables and low on fatty or over-sweet junk foods. They won't make you grow taller, but will help you maintain good health.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Tom Hilton