Don’t do it, otherwise you’ll get hunched over as you get older.

Don’t do it, otherwise you’ll get hunched over as you get older.

These kinds of statements often come across in an alarmist tone, as if a single habit were responsible for age-related stooping. The reality is more complex… but also more important to understand.

Why do some people become stooped as they get older?
Posture changes due to several factors:

loss of muscle mass
weakness of the back
habits accumulated over the years
bone changes
This doesn’t happen overnight.