Wider Hips with Age: Fact or Fiction?

Do hips get wider with age?

Do hips get wider with age?

Mai Delacruz

Mai Delacruz
Personal Fitness Trainer & Health Coach

Updated on 9/20/2023

Hip Bones Enlarge With Age, Big Fat Truth

Do hips get wider with age? According to a recent research study, the width of your hips increases with age, so it's not just your imagination.

Researchers have uncovered evidence that the hip bones can continue growing even as people enter their 70s, even though most people cease growing in height by the time they reach the age of 20, which is when they get the average adult height.

The researcher who conducted the study, Dr. Laurence E. Dahners, is an expert in the field University of North Carolina School of Medicine Department of Medicine, where he holds the position of professor. He said, "I believe it's a very normal human experience that individuals feel themselves to be broader at the age of 40 or 60 than they were when they were at the age of 20, and I think that's pretty much universal."

hips age

hips age

According to Cahners, the new findings reveal that pelvic expansion may lead to an increase in waist size as individuals get older and not only because they put on more weight. For years, people assumed that the widening was because of an increase in body fat.

The measurements that Who took from the CT scans of 246 people were as follows: the width and height of the vertebral body (to determine whether the patients are taller or more significant than average, to begin with), the distance between both the hips and knees, as well as the diameter of the hip joints, the breadth of the pelvic inlet (which is the center of the pelvis where the birth canal opens out for women), and the distance between the hip joints.

hips workout

hips workout

There were around 20 men and 20 females in each 10-year age group, beginning with those in their 20s and continuing to those in their 70s and 79s. The range of ages covered was from 20 to 79 years old. There were people in the group who were as young as 20 to 29 years old and as old as 70 to 79.

The researchers found that the width of the pelvis, the width between both the hip bones, and the size of the hip bones all increased with age, even in persons who had already attained their maximum height. This held true even after people had achieved their tallest possible stature. Indeed, that held true long after people had attained their tallest possible stature. That remained the case even after people had reached their maximum height.

woman bird

woman bird

According to the results of the study found in the research, the pelvic width of the participants whose ages ranged from 70 to 79 years was, on average, approximately one inch wider than the pelvic width of the individuals whose ages ranged from 20 to 29 years. That amounts to around a three-inch gain in waist circumference for a person from the age of 20 to the age of 79, depending on their starting waist size.

An article that was published on May 25 in the Newspaper of Sports medicine Research journal contained a summary and discussion of the findings of the most recent research that had been conducted.

Please pass it along: People's pelvic bones expand as they age, resulting in their hips being more expansive. That is not just the result of people becoming older and gaining more fat around their hips; it is also the fact that this is the situation.

female squat

female squat

Do hips get wider with age? Dr. Laurence E. Dahners, the investigator who was responsible for carrying out the study, is currently employed as a professor at the orthopedics division of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He said, "I believe it's a very normal human experience that individuals feel themselves to be broader at the age of 40 or 60 than when they were at the age of 20, and I think that's pretty much universal."

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do hips get wider with age?

There is some evidence to suggest that hips can widen with age, especially in women who are going through menopause. Hormonal changes during this time can cause the body to store more fat in the hips, leading to an increase in hip size.

Why do hips get wider with age?

Hips can get wider with age due to a variety of factors, including hormonal changes, a decrease in muscle mass, and an increase in body fat. These changes can cause the hips to expand and become wider over time.

Is it possible to prevent hips from getting wider with age?

While it may not be possible to completely prevent hips from getting wider with age, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to slow down the process. This may include eating a balanced diet, staying active, and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Can exercise help to prevent hips from getting wider with age?

Regular exercise can help to prevent hips from getting wider with age by building muscle mass, burning body fat, and maintaining a healthy weight. Resistance training exercises, such as weightlifting, can also help to strengthen the muscles in the hips and prevent them from expanding over time.

Does body weight affect the width of hips?

Body weight can play a role in the width of hips, as excess body fat can accumulate in the hips and cause them to become wider. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can help to prevent the hips from expanding over time.

Are wider hips a sign of health problems?

Wider hips alone are not necessarily a sign of health problems. However, if the expansion of the hips is due to an underlying health issue, such as hormonal imbalances or hormonal changes during menopause, it may be indicative of a more serious health concern. In these cases, it is important to consult with a doctor for a proper evaluation and treatment plan.