Fact or Fiction That You Lose Height as You Age?

Undoubtedly, people tend to become shorter with advancing age.

After the age of 40, humans generally lose about a centimeter every ten years. Males see an annual height reduction of 0.08-0.1%. Women typically lose between 0.12% and 0.14% yearly.

What Causes Decreasing Height

Some of this reduction is caused by increasingly slumped posture over time. Those who develop a curved spinal position throughout the day – possibly during desk work – could find their posture naturally assumes to that position.

We all decrease in height throughout each day when gravitational force squeezes moisture from vertebral discs.

Physical Changes Explaining Shrinking

Our height transformation takes place gradually.

From 30 to 35 years old, height stabilizes as bone and muscle mass gradually reduce. The cushioning discs between our vertebrae become dehydrated and begin shrinking.

The lattice-like center in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs becomes less dense. During this process, the structure compact marginally becoming shorter.

Reduced muscular tissue further impacts our stature: skeletal structures preserve their form and size by muscular pressure.

Is It Possible to Stop Height Loss?

Even though this transformation can't be prevented, it can be slowed.

Eating foods high in calcium and D vitamins, participating in consistent strength-building activities and avoiding smoking and drinking beginning in youth may reduce the rate of bone and muscle loss.

Keeping correct spinal position also provides protection of stature loss.

Is Getting Shorter A Health Issue?

Becoming slightly shorter could be normal.

Yet, significant deterioration of structural tissues with aging connects to chronic health conditions such as heart-related conditions, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and mobility challenges.

Therefore, it's valuable to adopt safeguarding habits to support structural tissue wellness.