Background The  prevalence  of  short  stature  in  thalassemia  patients ranges from 39.3 to 65%.  The  cause  of short stature is complex  and  still up for debate.  In  Indonesia, data on the  prevalence  and risk  factors  of  short  stature  in  adolescents  with  thalassemia  have been limited. Objective To assess for the prevalence and risk factors of short stature in adolescents with beta-thalassemia major. Methods This cross-sectional study was done from February to March 2017 at the Thalassemia Clinic at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung. The baseline characteristics data of 80 adolescents with thalassemia aged 10-14 years were recorded. Short stature was assessed by height-for-age, (Z-score <-2SD) based on the 2007 WHO Reference Growth Chart. Mid-upper arm circumference was scored according to age and sex and serum IGF-1 was measured by ELISA method. Data analyses used were Chi-square, Fisher’s, and Mann-Whitney tests. Logistic regression model was used to further analyze for risk factors of short stature. Results Subjects were 40 males and 40 females, 81.2% of whom had short stature. The mean serum IGF-1 level was 32.2 (SD 26.38) ng/mL. The IGF-1 cut-off point by ROC curve was £38.51 ng/mL, with sensitivity of 64.4% and specificity of 86.7%. The risk factors of short stature were IGF-1 level £38.51 ng/mL (PR 40.66; 95%CI 4.37 to 377.58; P<0.001) and low family income (PR 19.76; 95%CI: 1.152 to 256.08; P=0.022). Conclusion IGF-1 level may be useful as a predictor of short stature in adolescent beta-thalassemia major patients.