One of the most common questions people ask after losing a significant amount of weight is, “Did I get taller?” And the answer is, “Not necessarily.” There are actually several factors that affect your height, including your age, gender, weight, and diet. If you’re wondering if losing weight will make you taller, keep reading.
Your Age
If you’re wondering if losing weight will make you taller, you’re probably thinking about age because it’s well-known that as you get older, you tend to shrink. Studies have shown that men and women experience a 0.7-inch decrease in height per year after turning 50. Some researchers believe this is because as our bodies get more and more active as we get older, it needs more energy to maintain its same structure. So it starts losing weight to keep up with metabolism changes. (1)
If you’re wondering if you’ll get taller after losing weight, your age and gender determine how much you’ll increase in scale. If you’re a man, you’ll likely gain about 4 inches; if you’re a woman, you’ll likely gain about 3 inches. (2)
Your Weight
According to studies, the amount of weight you lose will affect your height more so than anything else. When people lose a significant amount of weight, they tend to either remain the same in height or go up a couple of inches. If you’re wondering if you’ll get taller after losing weight, depending on how much you lose, you could either become an ant or an elephant. (3)
If you’re at a healthy weight and want to maintain your same height or go up a couple of inches, you should be able to do so. Keep in mind that if you do decide to go up a couple of inches, it could mean you have to adjust your wardrobe and workout habits to accommodate your new height. (4)
Your Diet
Another thing that affects your height is your diet. Diets that are high in protein and calories tend to cause people to gain weight and stay the same in height. People who follow diets rich in veggies, fruits, and whole grains tend to stay the same or go down a couple of inches. (5)
If you’re wondering if you’ll get taller after losing weight, you should be able to notice the effect that your diet has on your growth. In order to maintain the same height, it’s advised that you eat a low-calorie, high-protein diet that is rich in nutrients. (6)
Gender
Depending on your gender, you might or might not end up with more height after losing weight. Men are usually taller than women, which means that if you’re a man and want to maintain your current height or go up a couple of inches, you should be able to do so. (7)
If you’re a woman and want to maintain your current height or go down a couple of inches, you should try to follow a diet that is high in veggies, fruits, and whole grains to keep your calories low. Studies have shown that diets rich in protein and calories cause women to gain a couple of inches. (8)
Overall
So, as you can see, there are many factors that affect your height, including your age, weight, and diet. It’s not always easy to determine how much weight you’ll need to lose in order to become shorter or how much height you’ll gain once you lose the weight. For the most part, as long as you continue to eat healthy and follow a regular routine, you’ll be able to maintain your current height or go up a couple of inches.