🔗 Share this article Fact or Fiction That Your Height Decreases with Age? Without question, adults typically shrink as they grow older. After the age of 40, individuals commonly shed approximately one centimeter of height per decade. Men undergo a yearly decrease in height of 0.08-0.1%. Females generally shed 0.12-0.14% per year. Reasons Behind Shrinking Stature Part of this decrease results from increasingly slumped posture with aging. People who maintain a curved spinal position over long durations – maybe at their workstation – might notice their back slowly conforms to that position. We all decrease vertical stature between morning and evening when gravitational force squeezes moisture from vertebral discs. The Biological Process of Height Loss The change in our stature happens on a cellular scale. From 30 to 35 years old, stature plateaus as bone and muscle mass start declining. The vertebral discs separating our spinal bones lose hydration and gradually compress. The lattice-like center of spinal, pelvic and leg bones becomes less dense. As this occurs, the structure compact somewhat and shortens. Decreased muscle further impacts our stature: the framework sustains their shape and dimensions via muscle force. Is It Possible to Stop Height Loss? While this process cannot be halted, the progression can be delayed. Eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, performing routine resistance training and avoiding smoking and drinking beginning in youth can decrease the rate of bone and muscle loss. Maintaining proper posture also provides protection against shrinking. Is Getting Shorter A Health Issue? Losing some height may not be problematic. But, considerable skeletal and muscular decline in later years associates with chronic health conditions such as heart complications, osteoporosis, arthritic conditions, and mobility challenges. Therefore, it's valuable to adopt safeguarding habits for preserving skeletal and muscular integrity.