Is it True That You Get Shorter as You Age?

Undoubtedly, adults typically shrink over the years.

From age 40 onward, adults typically drop roughly 1 cm every ten years. Men experience a yearly decrease in height around 0.08% to 0.1%. Women often experience 0.12-0.14% annually.

Factors Contributing to Height Loss

Part of this decrease results from increasingly slumped posture as we age. Those who develop a hunched back posture for extended periods – perhaps while working – may discover their back slowly conforms that hunched shape.

We all decrease some height throughout each day when gravitational force squeezes water from intervertebral discs.

The Biological Process Explaining Shrinking

Height alteration happens on a cellular scale.

During the early thirties, stature plateaus when skeletal and muscular tissue start declining. The spinal cushions separating our spinal bones shed water and start contracting.

The honeycomb structure of spinal, pelvic and leg bones loses density. During this process, the structure compact marginally and shortens.

Diminished muscle mass also influences our stature: the framework sustains their form and size through muscular tension.

Ways to Slow Stature Reduction?

While this process isn't stoppable, it can be slowed.

Eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, performing routine weight-bearing exercise while limiting smoking and drinking starting in early adulthood may reduce the rate of bone and muscle loss.

Maintaining proper posture helps prevent acceleration of height reduction.

Is Getting Shorter Concerning?

Experiencing minor reduction may not be problematic.

Yet, significant bone and muscle loss in later years associates with persistent health problems like cardiovascular issues, bone density loss, joint inflammation, and mobility challenges.

Therefore, it's valuable to take preventive measures to support bone and muscle health.