Do we shrink as we get older?

[kate1976]

I know quite a few people that seem to have gotten smaller over the years and just last night my son measured my height and I was 2 inches smaller than I was when I was a teenager, I'm only 29 now!!

I've heard a few rumours that people shrink but I never really believed it until now, so is it true?!

[Eastender]

Yes it is true. The bones lose density.

[kate1976]

Thanks for your reply, very interesting!

[electricblue]

Once you reach 21 apparently its all shrink after that!

[unruliejulie]

My poor old Mum wasn't tall to start with, 5' 1/2'' but bless her, now she's only 4' 11". Its all to do with your bones, as Eastender said.Not good news for us (5'3") short arses!)

[electricblue]

Oh god i only reached 5 2 now i'm 5,thank god for platforms and heels!!Even though they do my feet in,they still exist!!!

[halfadaily]

Hi Kate, it is true, when I was 20 I was 5'10. Now I'm much older I'm 5'8".
I look on the plus side though, ....not so far to go to tie up my shoes.

[Jennykins]

Yes we do, Wich is why when we are young we must do as much exercise as possible to get our bones as thick as possible. I doubt any Gymnast gets Ostio!

[k@tie]

we dont actually shrink but the invertabral discs that act as shock absorbers between each vertabrae become flatter as we get older. so after we stop growing at approx 25 we begin to 'shrink' and with over 30 discs the loss in height can seem quite noticeable in a lifetime

[k@tie]

bones and bone density had nothing to do with height..weak bones just break not shrink