# Do people get, um, denser as they get older?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 25, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524 "2011-09-25T03:26:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524/1 "2011-09-25T03:26:10Z")

</div>

By denser I don’t mean dumber, I mean having denser mass.

The reason I’m asking is that I have some pre-preggo clothing that fits me, in a normal, non-stuffed sausage type way, but I weigh quite a bit more now than I did before I got pregnant.

Also, when I’m smaller I have pants and things from high school that fit me but I way TONS more now than I did back then.

So, I’m guessing I have more muscle then I used to but I’m just wondering if that’s a regular thing to have happen? Now, before anyone asks, I haven’t been doing any strength training, power lifting, etc. Just walking enthusiastically and carrying Junior around - I’m less active than before I got pregnant, although not a slug.

What say you?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524/2 "2011-09-25T06:42:09Z")

</div>

At 18, I weighed 160 with a 34" waist. About 50 years later, I’m 150 with a 33" waist and couldn’t fill out the jeans I wore years ago so I guess for me, it’s still about the genes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524/3 "2011-09-25T09:30:52Z")

</div>

I say you have more muscle mass.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524/4 "2011-09-26T03:04:44Z")

</div>

They actually tend to get less dense (more body fat), with a steep fall after the 50s. Sarcopenia and declining bone mass.

It sounds you have somehow gotten more muscular. Toting a baby/toddler and equipment is plenty of strength building exercise.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [September 26, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-get-um-denser-as-they-get-older/597524/5 "2011-09-26T19:15:06Z")

</div>

Carrying the kid around is probably a lot more exercise than you realize.