Should You Worry About Shrinking as You Get Older?

One of the common changes for women as they grow older is to lose a small amount of height -- most women will lose up to an inch. Dr. Holly L. Thacker says this happens because you lose the space in the discs that support the bones in your spine.

To keep your bones healthy as you get older, make sure your diet includes foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients are essential to maintain strong bones, but they cannot reverse or treat bone loss, which is called osteoporosis.

It’s time for concern when your physician has documented a loss in height that exceeds an inch and a half.