Inspiration: Twins Aging Study

Well, if this doesn't inspire you to wear sunscreen and quit smoking, I'm not sure what will. A study was done to see how different life and environmental factors affect the process of aging and the comparisons were made looking at twins. Twins are genetically programmed to age the same way, so when they don't, it is assumed that the other factors are the reason behind the differences. The study found that 10 years of smoking added 2.5 years of aging and that sun, depression, stress and weight also played a factor in perceived aging. The interesting thing about the weight factor is that in twins under the age of 40, the twin that was heavier appeared older while, in twins over 40, the opposite was true. Take these twins pictured. The one on the left weighs only 4 pounds less than the one on the right but I think there is quite a markable difference in their appearance of age. You have to go check out the slideshow and play the game of, "Which one looks older?" before reading the explanation on the right. I had fun playing and some of the differences are dramatic. Makes me want to don a big floppy hat and avoid second-hand smoke as much as possible! Have you ever noticed this on your own before though? Maybe not with twins but with siblings? I have definitely met siblings where one is the oldest but looks the youngest because the other one smokes. And seeing pictures like the ones from this study just drive the point home further. I told you we were on an inspiration kick this week...maybe this will inspire you to quit smoking, be more diligent about sunscreen or even to stop worrying about those few extra pounds if you're over 40. Be healthy, be happy....is that the Cheerios jingle? I need coffee...

- Buttercup