Body age?

An old coworker of mine, who sells herbalife, is talking about how herbalife has helped her "gain back 13 years" of her life.

None of this make sense to me. How can your "body age" be more or less than your real age? Is this a real thing that I'm just ignorant to? Based on the fact that it's being stated by someone selling something, I doubt it's a real thing.
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I think we all know people who may look older than they actually are or have health that is failing. And we all know people who look younger than they are or have few health problems. But you don't need Herbalife for that -- it's a function of genetics, diet, activity, lifestyle, and luck.

    As far as having a specific number like "13 years," yeah. That sounds made up.
  • Coley88
    Coley88 Posts: 114 Member
    I think we all know people who may look older than they actually are or have health that is failing. And we all know people who look younger than they are or have few health problems. But you don't need Herbalife for that -- it's a function of genetics, diet, activity, lifestyle, and luck.

    As far as having a specific number like "13 years," yeah. That sounds made up.

    Trust me, I have no interest in getting Herbalife. I just wanted to know if this was a real thing at all, as it sounded pretty out there.
  • ElkeKNJ
    ElkeKNJ Posts: 207 Member
    At the gym, they have a scale that measures weight, body fat percentage but also the metabolical age of your body. I do not know the value of it, but my friend and I always compete to be the younger one. I usually lose...
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Herbalife link is bollocks

    I look a good 10-15 years younger than my chronilogical age because genetics, also because I'm within goal weight and fit

    My parents also pass for 20 years younger and they are approaching 80 and 95
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Had to laugh at the ' 13 years younger' thing.
    A couple of years ago I was chatting on line with a couple (early 60's like me) who, after I had mentioned going to the gym, told me that their 'coach' had told them they had the bodies of 40 yr olds, I thought they were going to be super fit. Wrong, they had the bodies and looks of a 60+ tr old just like me.
    I thought it was so cruel of their 'coach' to mislead them just to sell a product.

    Cheers, h.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    I've seen many movies where the doctor will say to an older gentlemen 'you have the body of an 18 year old!'

    I guess its a 'thing', but its a 100% subjective thing. like I don't think there is any tests they run that would say your the equivalent of however many years old. when a MD says it, he just means your surprisingly healthy lol
  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    Wii Fit gives an age too, but it's very wrong. Except for when it says I'm younger than I am, when it becomes very right ;-)
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Regular exercise is the thing most likely to make you look and feel younger and your best bet for aging healthily. Skip the shakes or pills or whatever Herbalife is and get up and move!
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Wii Fit gives an age too, but it's very wrong. Except for when it says I'm younger than I am, when it becomes very right ;-)

    I LOVE the Wii Fit! It always gives me some ridicuously low age.
  • Coley88
    Coley88 Posts: 114 Member
    ElkeKNJ wrote: »
    At the gym, they have a scale that measures weight, body fat percentage but also the metabolical age of your body. I do not know the value of it, but my friend and I always compete to be the younger one. I usually lose...

    Apparently that's how she is determining her "body age" as well. She stated that her body age was 31 when she started Herbalife and it is now 18. She's a couple years younger than I am, so probably around 22-23.

    She's also now trying to get me to go try the scale. Thanks, but no thanks.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited August 2015
    ElkeKNJ wrote: »
    At the gym, they have a scale that measures weight, body fat percentage but also the metabolical age of your body. I do not know the value of it, but my friend and I always compete to be the younger one. I usually lose...

    The only thing that scale measures, and the accuracy will depend on how frequently it is calibrated, is scale weight

    It does not accurately measure body fat because bio impedence does not work ...an error margin of 7-10% makes it worthless for anything but tracking progression over time (months)

    And the idea that it can give you a metabolic age is laughable ...
  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    Because I am prematurely grey and don't color my hair, people often think I am my 16 year old son's grandmother. If I colored my hair, would that make it younger because it had color or older because of the chemical damage? I seem to prefer more attainable goals like being healthy and fit over getting younger.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    I want a Wii Fit so I can be 20 years younger and have a higher metabolism.
    More wine on a hot summer evening would be greatly appreciated.

    Cheers, h.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited August 2015
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I want a Wii Fit so I can be 20 years younger and have a higher metabolism.
    More wine on a hot summer evening would be greatly appreciated.

    Cheers, h.

    Wii Fit doesn't measure metabolism. It's based on balance and reaction time tests.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    That is just part of the woo-woo Herbalife script.

    There are all kinds of "real age" tests out there. They tend to be promoted by people like Dr. Oz, which tells you something about how scientific they are.

    I think the real test is how often you get carded. <--just kidding...mostly
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    Coley88 wrote: »
    ElkeKNJ wrote: »
    At the gym, they have a scale that measures weight, body fat percentage but also the metabolical age of your body. I do not know the value of it, but my friend and I always compete to be the younger one. I usually lose...

    Apparently that's how she is determining her "body age" as well. She stated that her body age was 31 when she started Herbalife and it is now 18. She's a couple years younger than I am, so probably around 22-23.

    She's also now trying to get me to go try the scale. Thanks, but no thanks.

    It's pretty sad that a 22-year-old would even be worried about this. :)
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited August 2015
    That is just part of the woo-woo Herbalife script.

    There are all kinds of "real age" tests out there. They tend to be promoted by people like Dr. Oz, which tells you something about how scientific they are.

    I think the real test is how often you get carded. <--just kidding...mostly

    No the stories I linked to above relate to legit studies. I haven't read/evaluated them, but they passed peer review somewhere

    Herbalife of course is bouulllllshet
  • caroldavison332
    caroldavison332 Posts: 864 Member
    there is an app called "Real age". You enter your height, weight, blood pressure whether you eat right and floss your teeth, meds, etc and it tells you your "Real age". Its by the respected Dr. Roisen.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    edited August 2015
    Need2, just a fly comment on a topic that amused me. Must be the heat of the day sent my brain wonky.

    Cheers, h.

    Edited to add: just turned 62 and iifym knocked 6 cals off my bmr. Take that back 20 yr and it gives me my glass of wine.
    Like I said just silly thoughts. h.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »

    Cool! That quiz put me 12 years younger than I am. B)
  • Coley88
    Coley88 Posts: 114 Member
    That is just part of the woo-woo Herbalife script.

    There are all kinds of "real age" tests out there. They tend to be promoted by people like Dr. Oz, which tells you something about how scientific they are.

    I think the real test is how often you get carded. <--just kidding...mostly

    I get carded almost every time I buy alcohol, unless I'm in a different state. When I went on vacation in March, I was never once carded. Same thing happened on a business trip in May. :wink:
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »

    Cool! That quiz put me 12 years younger than I am. B)

    high-five.png
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    This one was interesting. https://worldfitnesslevel.org/#/start

    I see these as fun, as good tools for thinking about lifestyle...but perhaps not terribly accurate. I am 40 years old, but it tells me that I have the fitness level of a 20-year-old. I will take it! :)

  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    Coley88 wrote: »
    An old coworker of mine, who sells herbalife, is talking about how herbalife has helped her "gain back 13 years" of her life.

    None of this make sense to me. How can your "body age" be more or less than your real age? Is this a real thing that I'm just ignorant to? Based on the fact that it's being stated by someone selling something, I doubt it's a real thing.

    she's trying to sell a product. she'll say anything.
  • ilfaith
    ilfaith Posts: 16,769 Member
    This one was interesting. https://worldfitnesslevel.org/#/start

    I see these as fun, as good tools for thinking about lifestyle...but perhaps not terribly accurate. I am 40 years old, but it tells me that I have the fitness level of a 20-year-old. I will take it! :)

    According to that test, at 46, I have the fitness level of a 21-year-old. Makes me feel less guilty about crushing on the 20somethings in the Fun & Games forums.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    when most people say something like this, they are essentially talking about adding years to their life...that and aging better. In my experience, eating well and regular exercise are the only fountains of youth...i don't know what herbalife is.

    my body is still 40, but I look a lot better than a lot of my friends of the same age and at this rate I'll probably life longer and healthier...because that's the lifestyle I live.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited August 2015
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    when most people say something like this, they are essentially talking about adding years to their life...that and aging better. In my experience, eating well and regular exercise are the only fountains of youth...i don't know what herbalife is.

    my body is still 40, but I look a lot better than a lot of my friends of the same age and at this rate I'll probably life longer and healthier...because that's the lifestyle I live.

    there's research on how exercise (i think strength training?) shortens telomeres! will find link later

    or lengthens, whichever is better, in a rush sorry
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    when most people say something like this, they are essentially talking about adding years to their life...that and aging better. In my experience, eating well and regular exercise are the only fountains of youth...i don't know what herbalife is.

    my body is still 40, but I look a lot better than a lot of my friends of the same age and at this rate I'll probably life longer and healthier...because that's the lifestyle I live.

    there's research on how exercise (i think strength training?) shortens telomeres! will find link later

    or lengthens, whichever is better, in a rush sorry

    I think that longer telemeres are better/what you want for longevity and healthy aging.