Is it True That You Get Shorter Over Time?

Without question, adults typically shrink with advancing age.

From age 40 onward, individuals commonly shed about a centimeter each decade. Men experience a yearly decrease in height between 0.08% and 0.1%. Females generally shed 0.12-0.14% per year.

What Causes Height Loss

Part of this decrease stems from gradually worsening posture with aging. Those who develop a curved spinal position for extended periods – perhaps while working – may discover their posture naturally assumes that curved alignment.

All people shed in height between morning and evening while gravity presses fluid from spinal discs.

Natural Mechanisms Explaining Shrinking

Height alteration happens on a cellular scale.

From 30 to 35 years old, stature plateaus as bone and muscle mass gradually reduce. The vertebral discs between our vertebrae shed water and gradually compress.

The honeycomb structure in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs becomes less dense. As this occurs, the structure compact somewhat becoming shorter.

Decreased muscle also influences our stature: bones maintain their structure and measurements by muscular pressure.

Ways to Slow Stature Reduction?

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

Following nutrition containing adequate calcium and vitamin D, performing routine resistance training and reducing nicotine and alcohol from younger adulthood could slow the decline of skeletal and muscular tissue.

Practicing good alignment helps prevent acceleration of height reduction.

Is Shrinking Stature A Health Issue?

Experiencing minor reduction isn't necessarily harmful.

Yet, significant skeletal and muscular decline with aging connects to persistent health problems including cardiovascular issues, brittle bones, joint inflammation, and mobility challenges.

Therefore, it's valuable to adopt safeguarding habits to support bone and muscle health.

Tammy Butler
Tammy Butler

A passionate tech educator and career coach with over a decade of experience in digital skills training and professional development.