Is it True That You Lose Height Over Time?

Definitely, individuals often lose height as they grow older.

From age 40 onward, individuals commonly shed approximately one centimeter every ten years. Males see an annual height reduction around 0.08% to 0.1%. Women typically lose between 0.12% and 0.14% yearly.

Factors Contributing to Height Loss

A portion of this loss results from progressively poor posture over time. People who maintain a hunched back posture for extended periods – perhaps while working – might notice their spine gradually adapts to that position.

Everyone loses in height from start to end of day when gravitational force squeezes moisture from vertebral discs.

Natural Mechanisms Explaining Shrinking

The change in our stature happens on a cellular scale.

Between ages 30-35, stature plateaus when skeletal and muscular tissue start declining. The vertebral discs separating our spinal bones shed water and begin shrinking.

The porous interior in vertebrae, pelvis and lower limbs reduces in thickness. When this happens, skeletal tissue condenses slightly reducing length.

Reduced muscular tissue additionally affects our height: the framework sustains their shape and dimensions through muscular tension.

Ways to Slow Stature Reduction?

Even though this transformation isn't stoppable, the rate can be reduced.

Eating foods high in calcium and D vitamins, engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise and avoiding tobacco and alcohol starting in early adulthood can decrease the decline of skeletal and muscular tissue.

Practicing good alignment also provides protection against shrinking.

Is Getting Shorter Always Problematic?

Losing some height could be normal.

But, considerable deterioration of structural tissues in later years associates with long-term medical issues like heart complications, osteoporosis, joint inflammation, and mobility challenges.

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

Jacob Schwartz
Jacob Schwartz

A tech enthusiast and business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.