# How does one look young? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377 "2012-08-04T02:14:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/21 "2012-08-04T14:58:37Z")
You are right about the body fat thing. No one ever thought I looked my age. Then 10lbs snuck up on me. I immediately looked older. It does help that at 45 the grey has only started to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/22 "2012-08-04T15:10:35Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > Genes, having good skin, dying hair, **and especially for men, keeping body fat low (which if done over a lifetime, keeps skin tighter, especially on the face).** This is depressingly true. I’m losing the weight now, but dammit, once you’ve had it it’s just not the same. My trick: get rid of any facial hair. Every single time I let my beard grow out for more than a few days then shave it I hear that I look years younger. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/23 "2012-08-04T17:40:35Z")
I was about to start a thread with a somewhat similar theme. These days, while the Olympics are on, I see a well-known German sportscaster on TV almost every day. Here’s a picture: [http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/people/Gerhard\_Delling/images/group1/200746\_191855\_1\_024.jpg](http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/people/Gerhard_Delling/images/group1/200746_191855_1_024.jpg) Guess how old this guy is (those who know him, please abstain). As far as I know, he hasn’t had any work done, wouldn’t be his style. ---
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/24 "2012-08-04T18:40:43Z")
The deepset wrinkles in his forehead tell me 50s - 60s, but damn, he still looks really good. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/25 "2012-08-04T23:35:17Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You are right about the body fat thing. No one ever thought I looked my age. Then 10lbs snuck up on me. I immediately looked older. It does help that at 45 the grey has only started to show up. After keeping hair (for a man) and coloring it if it’s grey, I think losing excess body fat is the #1 way to look younger. Fat just ages a person. You can be in your 20s and look 40, especially if you finish out the look by wearing an older looking style. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/26 "2012-08-05T02:25:05Z")
I dunno. I know several guys who’ve lost weight recently and their faces look older now, although of course the rest of them looks younger. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/27 "2012-08-05T02:37:06Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > I dunno. I know several guys who’ve lost weight recently and their faces look older now, although of course the rest of them looks younger. I agree 100%. I think a certain level of fat in one’s face is needed to look vital, healthy and most of all, _youthful._ Speaking as a bodybuilder, whenever I see guys lose a bunch of weight in their faces from dieting for a competition, it always looks similar: gaunt, ghostly, aged. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/28 "2012-08-05T02:48:36Z")
Yeah. A little (or maybe even a lot) fat does make you look younger, to me. Kind of, smooths out the wrinkles and imperfections in the skin, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/29 "2012-08-05T03:01:57Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > I dunno. I know several guys who’ve lost weight recently and their faces look older now, although of course the rest of them looks younger. It seems like a lot of women in their 40s and 50s try to stave off aging by working out obsessively. But then they end up like Madonna, etc looking like a jacked-up horse-faced scarecrow. > [@Rodgers01](#): > > My trick: get rid of any facial hair. Every single time I let my beard grow out for more than a few days then shave it I hear that I look years younger. I’m almost 40 and still can’t grow a decent beard. Honestly, I’m more interested in looking “healthy” than “young”. The fact is, I’m not “young”. While I can and do pass for early 30s, I’m just not interested in doing what 20-somethings and 30-somethings still clinging to the dream of being 20-something are doing. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/30 "2012-08-05T03:50:55Z")
> [@badger5149](#): > > Their is a definitive answer to this. Do things that keep your levels of endorfins at an elevated level. Some of the methods for doing this can be a bit weird but it works. Hmmm I’ve heard several people observe that in opposition to methamphetamine addicts which seem to age prematurely, heroin or other opiate addicts seem to look younger than they should. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/31 "2012-08-05T04:03:22Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Hmmm I’ve heard several people observe that heroin addicts seem to look younger than they should. I’ve never heard anyone observe that. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/32 "2012-08-05T04:26:30Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’ve never heard anyone observe that. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-396067.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-396067.html) ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/33 "2012-08-05T04:32:39Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > I was about to start a thread with a somewhat similar theme. These days, while the Olympics are on, I see a well-known German sportscaster on TV almost every day. Here’s a picture: > > [http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/people/Gerhard\_Delling/images/group1/200746\_191855\_1\_024.jpg](http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/people/Gerhard_Delling/images/group1/200746_191855_1_024.jpg) > > Guess how old this guy is (those who know him, please abstain). As far as I know, he hasn’t had any work done, wouldn’t be his style. I would guess… 55-58. BUT…If you told me he was 70 I wouldn’t be surprised, either. Not sure why. I mean, aside from the fact that you said it might be surprising. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/34 "2012-08-05T04:33:12Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Drugs. Human growth hormone, to be specific (there are probably others as well but this is the only one I know of that any of those celebs publicly admits to). When he was 50, Stallone gave an interview in which he freely stated he took daily shots. And ate nothing but … carrots, I’m thinking it was. He seemed to think it would keep him young forever. But personally, I’m thinking he is looking old. Arnie definitely looks old. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/35 "2012-08-05T04:34:33Z")
As far as how to stay looking young, well…being healthy helps. Nothing ages you like a sickness. And I agree with the upthread post about sleep, and the body fat. And, my own personal opinion: I think attitude really, really helps. That doesn’t necessarily show up in a picture, but…I think it does. I think grumpy people look older, happier ones look younger. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/36 "2012-08-05T04:37:26Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > I was about to start a thread with a somewhat similar theme. These days, while the Olympics are on, I see a well-known German sportscaster on TV almost every day. Here’s a picture: > > [http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/people/Gerhard\_Delling/images/group1/200746\_191855\_1\_024.jpg](http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/people/Gerhard_Delling/images/group1/200746_191855_1_024.jpg) > > Guess how old this guy is (those who know him, please abstain). As far as I know, he hasn’t had any work done, wouldn’t be his style. Well he’s gonna hate me now. If that really is Gerhard Delling he’s only a few years older than I am. 😛 Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/37 "2012-08-05T06:09:48Z")
> [@grude](#): > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-396067.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-396067.html) Um…yeah? And? What’s this supposed to support? 😕 Certainly not your claim that you’ve heard several people “observe heroin addicts seeming to look younger than they should”. All I saw there was a thread from someone asking if the rumor she’d heard was true. No one had posted about seeing any “youthful” heroin addicts. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/38 "2012-08-05T06:23:20Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Um…yeah? And? What’s this supposed to support? 😕 Certainly not your claim that you’ve heard several people “observe heroin addicts seeming to look younger than they should”. All I saw there was a thread from someone asking if the rumor she’d heard was true. No one had posted about seeing any “youthful” heroin addicts. :dubious: > [@](#): > > The few people I know who don’t drink or smoke, but were painkiller addicts, who got on methadone before Vicodin and other acetaminophen-containing pills damaged their liver (given my area of research, the vast majority of these were Mormons who didn’t mind taking painkillers, but who still believed drinking and smoking and “hard drugs” like heroin or cocaine were moral wrongs) have tended to look young for their age. > > All this has led me to suspect that opioids by themselves might slow aging down, but it’s just a vague association and not a scientific opinion by any means. It could just be a complete coincidence. In any case I never made a solid claim one way or the other, merely that I had seen people mention it.(outside the thread) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/39 "2012-08-05T06:44:39Z")
> [@IceQube](#): > > Sly Stallone. Arnold (to an extent). Chuck Norris (to a huge extent). > > How exactly does one look so young in his or her 60s, or 70s, in Norris’ case? > > Don’t tell me Photoshop :dubious:. I think that hair dye works a LOT of magic. Chuck, if you took off all of the hair dye, and the beard, would look like a 70 year old in great shape. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377/40 "2012-08-05T07:05:36Z")
Oh god, not hair dye. Seems like every Thai-Chinese businessman above the age of 60, if not 50, dyes his hair jet black, and so do their wives. Looks preposterous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-look-young/630377.md?page=3)