Weight loss = height gain?

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katyjay2014
katyjay2014 Posts: 54 Member
edited January 2017 in Health and Weight Loss
Prior to my weight loss, I was always 5'7.5". I wasn't short enough to be 5'7 but was never able to reach that 5'8 plateau. 2 years and 68lb gone later... and I'm 5'8.4" (?) That's a gain of nearly 1 full inch! Is that possible? Has anybody else had the same thing happen to them? It's not a standing taller thing, trust me - I tried to be taller and couldn't do it. I've heard of minimal height gain due to posture and the spinal discs not longer being compressed, but for a full inch... I'm 24 years old so I don't think it's a growing thing either - pretty sure I'm done with that. Is it possible for weight to impact my height THAT much or is something else at work here? Ideas welcome :) TIA!
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Replies

  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
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    Do you exercise now? Could be a combination of decompression and better posture from exercise. Some people are taller in the morning than evening too, just from daily pressure on the spine.

    Wish I could gain an inch, preferably on my stumpy legs!
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
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    That sounds amazing but not totally unbelievable and I'll be watching this thread :)

    (I've had commented I "look taller" after losing weight, but I think that was just that, not real height gain, but then again, I haven't measured myself for years.)
  • tryasimighty
    tryasimighty Posts: 131 Member
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    Yes it is possible- I was a little over an inch shorter when I was obese in my 20s! All that weight pulls you down all over! Plus Im sure you are walking taller with the pride of all that weight loss- endless benefits ;-)
  • katyjay2014
    katyjay2014 Posts: 54 Member
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    I've also gotten the "you look taller" comments but dismissed them as an illusion because of my weight loss. Now that I think about it, my height gain was never on my radar until I started strength training. Maybe I have a stronger core and it's actually working? :)
  • markrgeary1
    markrgeary1 Posts: 853 Member
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    Astronauts get taller after a long time in space.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,484 Member
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    I grew an inch in my 20's.

    At 14 I was hospitalized for 4 months with a compound fracture of my leg and my height was monitored for a couple of years to make sure my broken leg was ok. 5' all the time.
    At 19 I was measure while pregnant and was 5'
    At 20 I emigrated to Canada from the UK and was officially recorded at 5'.

    During a medical in my 30's I was measured and was 5'1.
    All subsequent measurements have had me at 5'1.

    I wasn't overweight at any of those times, I just grew an inch.

    Cheers, h.
  • MelissaLimeKiwi
    MelissaLimeKiwi Posts: 121 Member
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    My husband is 35 and did some physical therapy for his back this fall and he's now an inch taller. He's in the military so he gets measured all the time.
  • NewGemini130
    NewGemini130 Posts: 219 Member
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    I grew an inch in my early 20s as well. I was 5'6" all thru high school and college etc...then sometime in my 20s I had a boost and I'm 5'7", have been since- I think but now I want to get my height checked again (I'm in my 40s so hoping I haven't started shrinking yet!!)
  • 30kgin2017
    30kgin2017 Posts: 228 Member
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    I think its pretty common to grow or shrink a few cms depending on exercise. From memory its the core/back area that will expend or contract. I'd love to grow an inch, I've lost an inch since highschool and I was a shorty then.

    Ballerina's and gymnasts are often shorter. I remember seeing an article about identical twins. They were same height and weight basically until one gave up gymnastics. I cant remember the age one stopped maybe 12 and the photo was about age 16. The difference in height and obviously weight was astounding.
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,108 Member
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    I would love to gain the inch back I lost...I went down almost 1" and became flat footed when pregnant
  • JessicaMcB
    JessicaMcB Posts: 1,503 Member
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    This tickled me so much that me and my husband measured my height- suddenly my 5'9" measures 5'10" :o . Posture or whatever be damned, this thread just rocked my world ;) lol
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,627 Member
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    id be pissed if i got taller.

    i love being short.

    but ... taller would mean more calories...... LOLOLOL
  • laurasjourney88
    laurasjourney88 Posts: 16 Member
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    nooooo I don't want to get taller! I'm already 5ft 8 which I hate!!
  • yayamom3
    yayamom3 Posts: 939 Member
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    I don't get any taller when I lose weight, but my pants do get longer!
    @laurasjourney88 why do you hate being 5'8"? I'm that height, and I love it!
  • melto1989
    melto1989 Posts: 140 Member
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    I've grown 2cm since I was 18 now 27 ...haven't lost any weight just slowly gained during those years.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
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    VintageFeline wrote: »
    Do you exercise now? Could be a combination of decompression and better posture from exercise. Some people are taller in the morning than evening too, just from daily pressure on the spine.

    Wish I could gain an inch, preferably on my stumpy legs!

    Wish I could gain an inch, but not there......
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    I actually gained 1 inch when I was at my heaviest. That was a shocker! Now that I'm in maintenance range, I'll ask to be measured at my next Dr visit.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
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    trigden1991 wrote: »
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    VintageFeline wrote: »
    Do you exercise now? Could be a combination of decompression and better posture from exercise. Some people are taller in the morning than evening too, just from daily pressure on the spine.

    Wish I could gain an inch, preferably on my stumpy legs!

    Wish I could gain an inch, but not there......

    Strong username to innuendo.

    Honestly, the username is fishing related. The fact that I just drag tackle behind a boat instead of actually catching anything.

    And I don't know what you are talking about on the innuendo.....

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