I’ve lost 2 inches in height. Should I be worried?

Have you ever been measured at the doctor and thought:

“Hang on... I used to be taller than that.”

Getting a little shorter as we age isn’t unusual.

But how much is normal?

And at what point should you actually do something about it?

Some loss of height can happen with age, including from changes in posture and the discs in the spine.

But losing around two inches is roughly five centimetres, and that is enough that I would not simply shrug and call it ageing.

UK osteoporosis guidance from NOGG says vertebral fracture assessment should be considered in postmenopausal women and men over 50 with a history of at least 4 cm of height loss, as well as in some other higher-risk situations.

Vertebral fractures can sometimes occur without the dramatic pain people imagine, so height loss can be a useful clue.

That does not mean a five-centimetre loss proves you have osteoporosis or a spinal fracture.

It means it is worth taking seriously, particularly if you also have back pain, a previous fracture, osteoporosis risk factors or changes in posture.

Measure your current height accurately, think about what your adult height used to be, and take that information to your GP.

It is a much better conversation than simply saying:

“I think I’m shrinking.”

"Around 4 cm or more of historical height loss is enough to justify a proper conversation about vertebral fracture risk."

- Danielle Frost

RESEARCH / USEFUL SOURCES

•  NOGG: Fracture risk assessment and vertebral fracture assessment