10/05/2026
Why do people shrink?
Shrink sounds like a strong term, but it is true.
Old people lose height and muscle and fat, so they get smaller. Their spines begin to degenerate and compress, making them shorter. That's partially gravity taking hold. We all get shorter in the course of a day because water gets squeezed out of the discs of the spine. However, it is permanent in older people because there is less water in the discs to start with. Younger people have more water to begin with, and spring back to height at night.
Add to this the fact that the vertebrae can crush as you get older because of a condition called osteoporosis. People with osteoporosis have bones that aren't dense enough to hold their weight.
Some older people also can't stand up straight they stoop because of the crushed vertebrae.
Almost everything to do with shrinkage relates to diet and exercise. So get lots of exercise, fresh air and good food with plenty of calcium. That way you will have done your part to stay as big and strong as possible. The total amount you will shrink depends on how much you stay in shape. Generally, a man might lose three centimetres, and a woman five centimetres, between ages thirty to seventy.
