Do legs (calves) get thicker as you get older?

[Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius]

I’m mid 40s and normal weight. Am an apple shape and my legs have always been my best feature as they were quite slim and relatively long.
I recently saw a picture of myself from the summer (bare legs; above knee dress) where my legs look kind of thick? Not massive but def not slim.
I did go through a phase (about a year) of doing weights with squats so not sure if that contributed; or is it a normal part of getting older?
Also if anyone has reversed the thickness please let me know!!

OP I'm the same! I'm tall and have always been described as long legged, they are pretty long but have always been slim and well proportioned. For the last two years my calves are now really thick, no major weight gain but they look so much thicker than they ever were - yet my thighs are still the same! Let me know if you do find that reverse cure please

Oh, I hope not, mine are quite chonky to begin with. I did a lot of tap dancing in my youth which might be why. Am also short.

I imagine it’s the squats that did it OP.

@Woahyeahyeahyeah im the same - no change in my thighs; they are fine; it’s just the bloody calves 😭
Will start Googling and report back if I find any cure 😬

Yes, please. I'm curious to know too.. I've noticed the slight change as well but thought it was due to peri weight gain.. I'm an apple shape, used to have amazing legs

I'm 63 and I would say no. My mother is the same as me. I find if I drink few days in a row my ankles puff up a bit.

I’ve noticed the same, I’m tall and slim and my long legs were my best feature, I noticed probably late 40’s my lovely slim calves suddenly got thicker and to my horror a distinct calf wobble when I walked, no weight gain and also a dedicated exerciser so I have no idea why this happened. Nothing has reversed it I’m afraid, I now only wear trousers or longer length skirts.

I’m a horse rider so wear long fitted boots on my calves and my boots from age 25 still fit at 45.

@Loveablockheel urgh this sounds exactly like me…. At the moment still fine with black tights (does that change??) but it’s the no tights seasons I’ll be really impacted

I hope so! I've had chicken legs all my life and that would bring me into better proportion.

I think squats would help even things out, no? Squats make your quads and glutes bigger (when combined with a high protein diet), so your calves should go back to looking slim even if they are thicker in absolute terms, IYSWIM.

I have found running very good for streamlined muscle definition in the legs.
After starting to run every day I even developed a thigh gap which I never had in my youth! I'm in my 50s.

I don’t think it’s down to getting older, my calves haven’t changed at all, I’m 68.