# Are you shrinking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017 "2022-12-04T12:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/1 "2022-12-04T12:06:29Z")
I was 5’5" forever. At a recent Dr appt, I asked to have my height checked. I’m now barely 5’4" - technically, only if you round up. I’m nearly 69, so I guess it’s to be expected at my age. Who else? ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/2 "2022-12-04T12:59:13Z")
Well, my waistline certainly isn’t. 🤣 I’m 49 and still 5’10ish. So what causes the shrinking? Spinal compression? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/3 "2022-12-04T13:18:04Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > So what causes the shrinking? Spinal compression? Yes. The cartilage between joints gets worn out and osteoporosis causes the spinal column to become shorter. I was nearly 6’ tall for a long time. Now I’m about 5’10". ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/4 "2022-12-04T13:29:53Z")
I’m 55 and have lost a quarter inch since 48. My father has lost over four inches from 50 to 85, though some of that may be posture as he can’t stand as fully upright as he could. I was rather more surprised to learn that I had grown almost an inch (20 mm) from age 19 to age 35. I had always thought that you stopped growing at age 18 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/5 "2022-12-04T13:37:35Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I was rather more surprised to learn that I had grown almost an inch (20 mm) from age 19 to age 35. I had always thought that you stopped growing at age 18 or so. Are you female? That sometimes happens with a first pregnancy. I’m 45 (and male), and some time in the past decade or so I went from 5’ 11.5" to 5’ 10". ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/6 "2022-12-04T13:40:24Z")
Yes. I was 5’9.5" in college. Fifty years later, I’m 5’8", maybe less. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/7 "2022-12-04T14:03:58Z")
I’ve been 5’10" since I was a teen (67 now) and at my last doctor’s appointment a few months ago, they measured me at 5’9". I mock cried and said, “I don’t want to be a little old man!” ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/8 "2022-12-04T14:06:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are you female? That sometimes happens with a first pregnancy. No. According to my doctor at the time that’s quite normal for males as well. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/9 "2022-12-04T14:06:15Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I’ve been 5’10" since I was a teen (67 now) and at my last doctor’s appointment a few months ago, they measured me at 5’9". I mock cried and said, “I don’t want to be a little old man!” I’m 64. That happened to me a couple years ago. I’m not sure I want to measure me any more. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/10 "2022-12-04T14:16:40Z")
My husband got taller when he took up yoga. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/11 "2022-12-04T14:20:58Z")
Last doc visit still showed 5’ 10":, so no height change, but I’ve lost\* 18 lbs. in the last 6 months. So I shrunk a bit I guess. \*Due to scolding by docs, etc. Decided to make some minor but consistent changes to satisfy them. Went from 198 to 180. Not great, but headed in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/12 "2022-12-04T14:49:27Z")
Yup, I was 5’ 7" forever, then lost an inch. I’ve herniated my L4 _five times_ and have three bulging discs in my thoracic spine. 60 yo. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/13 "2022-12-04T15:22:19Z")
“Like a frightened turtle!” (Had to be said. Will show myself out.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/14 "2022-12-04T15:56:56Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I was 5’5" forever. At a recent Dr appt, I asked to have my height checked. I’m now barely 5’4" - technically, only if you round up. I’m nearly 69, so I guess it’s to be expected at my age. > > Who else? I’m 62. Still 5-7. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/15 "2022-12-04T15:57:08Z")
Yep. I was 6’8" since I was in my early 20s. A few years ago every time I’d to the Dr., they’d tell me I’m 6’7". I’m not even 50 yet, but I guess I had a lot of room to shrink. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/16 "2022-12-04T16:12:59Z")
5’7” all my adult life now the doc says 5’6.5” Sshhh, no one else knows and I’m not telling. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/17 "2022-12-04T16:15:10Z")
Historically I’ve always been exactly 6 feet 0, but I topped out at 5 ft, 10 1/2 in when last I stood sock-footed on the scale-and-height device at the doctor’s office. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/18 "2022-12-04T16:34:49Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Yep. I was 6’8" since I was in my early 20s. A few years ago every time I’d to the Dr., they’d tell me I’m 6’7". Will this force a change in your SDMB user name? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/19 "2022-12-04T16:43:03Z")
I was 6’4" in my late 20’s. I can barely make 6’2" now. I’m 62yo ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017/20 "2022-12-04T16:55:39Z")
You can expect to be about 1 centimeter (which is close to .4 of an inch, since an inch is precisely 2.54 centimeters) shorter at the end of the day than you are when you wake up. If you want to know whether you are increasing, decreasing, or staying the same in height over the long term, always measure your height at the same amount of time after waking up. Some sources give the change during the day as a percentage rather than an amount. They say that you can expect to lose 1% from the beginning of the day to the end of the day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-shrinking/976017.md?page=2)