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Any nurse who measures patients' heights and weights is likely to hear "I can't believe I have shrunk that much." Loss of height as we age is normal, and occurs in both men and women. However, too much loss might be a sign of osteoporosis, which is not a physiologic norm, and can result in a myriad of problems for patients.
There are two major changes that result in loss of height as we age. In the first, the discs that cushion and separate the vertebrae of the spine compress, and over time, shrink. This results in what we think of as normal age-related loss in height, which is not likely to be preventable. The second cause of loss of height is the compression and deterioration of the vertebrae as a result of bone loss. This affects the normal curvature of the spine (kyphosis or "dowager's hump"), and there is an accompanying loss of height. The bone loss that contributes to this loss of height is osteoporosis (National Osteoporosis Society, 2003; Spine University, n.d). This latter condition can be treated and prevented.
The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging examined the change in height of men and women as it related to interpreting the Body Mass Index (BMI). While this study did not control for osteoporosis, it does give some data on loss of height over time. The study observed 2,084 men and women aged 17 to 94 between the years of 1958 to 1993. In both sexes, height loss began at about the age of 30 and accelerated with age. The cumulative height loss from age 30 to 70 years averaged about 3 cm (1.18 inches) for men and 5 cm (1.97 inches) for women (Sorkin, Muller, & Andres, 1999). This study demonstrates that not only women lose height, but men do as well. Furthermore, it supports observations that women lose height at a greater rate then men.
Various researchers differ on their definition of what is considered "normal" height loss related to aging (Kantor, 2004; Ohio Health, 2003; Shmerling, 2003), but in general, it is agreed that a height loss of 2 or more inches may indicate osteoporosis and a need for further evaluation. Because there is a link between estrogen loss and osteoporosis,...