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Stature and Aging *
Author(s) -
KALLIOMÄKI J. L.,
SILTAVUORI L.,
VIRTAMA P.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1973.tb01651.x
Subject(s) - medicine , age groups , osteoporosis , weight loss , significant difference , demography , obesity , sociology
The study series consisted of 100 women and 100 men over the age of 45 who remembered their heights at the age of 20. Ninety women and 36 men also recalled their weights at age 20. The combined cortical thickness and the cortical index of both clavicles were measured, as well as the height and weight. The reduction of height for the 45–59 age group in women was 1.8 cm, and in men 1.1 cm; for the 60–69 age group in women it was 2.7 cm, and in men 1.7 cm; and for the 70+ age group in women it was 2.8 cm, and in men 2.0 cm. The difference between women and men was significant in the two younger age groups. There was a significant increase in the weight of women in the age groups 45–59 and 60–69 compared with their weight at the age of 20. No significant difference was found for the men. The reduction of stature was considered to be the result of loss of intervertebral tissue and pronounced curvatures of the spine (characteristic of old women gaining weight) rather than osteoporosis.