Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Height Loss?Is It a Symptom?Treatment and ManagementWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Height Loss?
Is It a Symptom?
Treatment and Management
When to Seek Medical Care
It’s normal to lose a little height in the second half of life. But significant height loss can signify a medical condition, oftenosteoporosis.
In this article, you’ll learn how and why osteoporosis can cause height loss and what you can do about it.
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People reach a maximum height during adulthood but eventually become a little shorter over time, resulting in height loss. For example, a man might be half an inch shorter at age 80 than at 35. Or a woman who was once 5 feet, 4 inches might only be 5 feet, 2 inches tall at age 90.
Some height loss is a normal part ofaging, which can cause changes in the spinal bones, the vertebral discs between them, or posture.
It’s not entirely clear what constitutes average height loss, but a loss of more than 1 inch or so may point to an additional problem requiring treatment.
What’s the Average Height for Women?
Is Height Loss a Symptom of Osteoporosis?
Since osteoporosis causes weakened and less dense bones, it can cause height loss.A loss of height may be the onlysymptom of osteoporosisyou have until youfractureone of your bones.
Interestingly, people with height loss seem to have an increased risk of having a significant fracture.One study showed that men who had lost more than 3 centimeters (cm) of height had twice the risk of getting ahip fracturecompared to men who had lost less than 1 cm.
Compression fractures (spinal vertebrae are squished together) andkyphosis(rounded upper back or hunchback) are two major ways osteoporosis may lead to decreased height.
Osteoporosis RiskIf you are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, it can be helpful for your healthcare provider to monitor your height as you age. Being 50 or older or assigned female sex at birth increase therisk of osteoporosis, as do certain medical conditions and medications.
Osteoporosis Risk
If you are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, it can be helpful for your healthcare provider to monitor your height as you age. Being 50 or older or assigned female sex at birth increase therisk of osteoporosis, as do certain medical conditions and medications.
Compression Fractures
Osteoporosis very commonly leads to minor vertebrae fractures calledcompression fractures. These sometimes cause sudden back pain but often go unnoticed. Compression fractures make your vertebrae a little more compact, decreasing your height.
Kyphosis
Osteoporosis is also connected tokyphosis, an exaggerated rounding of the upper back. Scientists aren’t quite sure of the connection between kyphosis and osteoporosis, but osteoporosis seems, in part, to cause kyphosis.Because the spine is more bent than usual, you have less overall height.
Treatment and Management of Height Loss From Osteoporosis
It’s unlikely you’ll be able to regain the height you’ve lost from osteoporosis. However, you can take steps to prevent further height loss.
Lifestyle Modifications
The following may help you minimize height loss:
Average Height for Men In America and Around the World
Medications
If your height loss is substantial, your healthcare provider may suggestmedicationsto help strengthen your bones. Options include:
Osteopenia Medications and Treatment
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
If you notice that your height is less than it used to be, don’t hesitate to bring it up with your healthcare provider. Although other factors can cause decreased height, osteoporosis is a common cause.You may need treatment to help prevent future fractures.
Potential FractureIf you have sudden severe symptoms of back pain or pain in any part of your body right after a fall, see a healthcare provider immediately. You might have a fracture that needs treatment.
Potential Fracture
If you have sudden severe symptoms of back pain or pain in any part of your body right after a fall, see a healthcare provider immediately. You might have a fracture that needs treatment.
Summary
Weakened bones from osteoporosis may worsen the typical height loss that occurs in older individuals. Because the bone is so fragile, vertebral fractures may occur. Osteoporosis can also contribute to compression fractures and kyphosis, shortening height.
Height loss may be the only symptom of osteoporosis that you have. Although not the only potential reason for height loss, it is often a sign that you are at risk of fracture from the disease.
Treating osteoporosis is unlikely to give you back your lost height. However, you can dramatically reduce your risk of future fractures through lifestyle choices and potential medication.
A Word From Verywell
You may not be too worried about losing a little height as you age. But substantial height loss could indicate osteoporosis or other underlying conditions. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have questions about height loss and to learn whether you might benefit from treatment.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mai X, Marshall B, Hovey KM, et al.Risk factors for 5-year prospective height loss among postmenopausal women.Menopause. 2018;25(8):883-889. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001108National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in body shape.Ensrud KE, Schousboe JT, Kats AM, et al.Height loss in old age and fracture risk among men in late life: a prospective cohort study.J Bone Miner Res. 2021;36(6):1069-1076. doi:10.1002/jbmr.4278Jeremiah MP, Unwin BK, Greenawald MH, et al.Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(4):261-268.Hannan MT, Broe KE, Cupples LA, et al.Height loss predicts subsequent hip fracture in men and women of the framingham Study.J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(1):146-52. doi:10.1002/jbmr.557McCarthy J, Davis A.Diagnosis and management of vertebral compression fractures.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):44-50.Kado DM, Huang MH, Karlamangla AS, et al.Factors associated with kyphosis progression in older women: 15 years' experience in the study of osteoporotic fractures.J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28(1):179-187. doi:10.1002/jbmr.1728Tu KN, Lie JD, Wan CKV, et al.Osteoporosis: a review of treatment options.P T. 2018;43(2):92-104.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mai X, Marshall B, Hovey KM, et al.Risk factors for 5-year prospective height loss among postmenopausal women.Menopause. 2018;25(8):883-889. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001108National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in body shape.Ensrud KE, Schousboe JT, Kats AM, et al.Height loss in old age and fracture risk among men in late life: a prospective cohort study.J Bone Miner Res. 2021;36(6):1069-1076. doi:10.1002/jbmr.4278Jeremiah MP, Unwin BK, Greenawald MH, et al.Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(4):261-268.Hannan MT, Broe KE, Cupples LA, et al.Height loss predicts subsequent hip fracture in men and women of the framingham Study.J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(1):146-52. doi:10.1002/jbmr.557McCarthy J, Davis A.Diagnosis and management of vertebral compression fractures.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):44-50.Kado DM, Huang MH, Karlamangla AS, et al.Factors associated with kyphosis progression in older women: 15 years' experience in the study of osteoporotic fractures.J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28(1):179-187. doi:10.1002/jbmr.1728Tu KN, Lie JD, Wan CKV, et al.Osteoporosis: a review of treatment options.P T. 2018;43(2):92-104.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mai X, Marshall B, Hovey KM, et al.Risk factors for 5-year prospective height loss among postmenopausal women.Menopause. 2018;25(8):883-889. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001108National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in body shape.Ensrud KE, Schousboe JT, Kats AM, et al.Height loss in old age and fracture risk among men in late life: a prospective cohort study.J Bone Miner Res. 2021;36(6):1069-1076. doi:10.1002/jbmr.4278Jeremiah MP, Unwin BK, Greenawald MH, et al.Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(4):261-268.Hannan MT, Broe KE, Cupples LA, et al.Height loss predicts subsequent hip fracture in men and women of the framingham Study.J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(1):146-52. doi:10.1002/jbmr.557McCarthy J, Davis A.Diagnosis and management of vertebral compression fractures.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):44-50.Kado DM, Huang MH, Karlamangla AS, et al.Factors associated with kyphosis progression in older women: 15 years' experience in the study of osteoporotic fractures.J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28(1):179-187. doi:10.1002/jbmr.1728Tu KN, Lie JD, Wan CKV, et al.Osteoporosis: a review of treatment options.P T. 2018;43(2):92-104.
Mai X, Marshall B, Hovey KM, et al.Risk factors for 5-year prospective height loss among postmenopausal women.Menopause. 2018;25(8):883-889. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001108
National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in body shape.
Ensrud KE, Schousboe JT, Kats AM, et al.Height loss in old age and fracture risk among men in late life: a prospective cohort study.J Bone Miner Res. 2021;36(6):1069-1076. doi:10.1002/jbmr.4278
Jeremiah MP, Unwin BK, Greenawald MH, et al.Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(4):261-268.
Hannan MT, Broe KE, Cupples LA, et al.Height loss predicts subsequent hip fracture in men and women of the framingham Study.J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(1):146-52. doi:10.1002/jbmr.557
McCarthy J, Davis A.Diagnosis and management of vertebral compression fractures.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):44-50.
Kado DM, Huang MH, Karlamangla AS, et al.Factors associated with kyphosis progression in older women: 15 years' experience in the study of osteoporotic fractures.J Bone Miner Res. 2013;28(1):179-187. doi:10.1002/jbmr.1728
Tu KN, Lie JD, Wan CKV, et al.Osteoporosis: a review of treatment options.P T. 2018;43(2):92-104.
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