Biological Age: How Old Is Your Body Really?
Your chronological age is the number of years since you were born, but your biological age reflects how your body may be ageing internally. In some cases, your biological age may appear lower or higher than your actual age.
What Is Biological Age?
Biological age is an estimate of how well your body is functioning compared with people of different ages. It may consider factors related to fitness, metabolism, heart health, sleep, stress, and certain biological markers.
What Does the “Score” Mean?
Some health assessments and biological-age tests combine different measurements to produce a score or estimated biological age. For example, a 35-year-old person might receive an estimated biological age of 30 or 40, depending on the test.
What Can Affect Biological Age?
- Regular physical activity
- Diet and nutrition
- Sleep quality
- Long-term stress
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- Body weight and metabolic health
- Cardiovascular and muscle fitness
- Genetics and other biological factors
Is the Score Completely Accurate?
No. Biological-age scores are estimates, not a definitive measurement of how old your body actually is. Different tests use different methods and biomarkers, so their results can vary.
How Can You Support Healthy Ageing?
Regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, stress management, and avoiding smoking can all support better overall health and healthy ageing.
In simple terms: Your birth age tells you how long you have lived; biological age attempts to estimate how your body is ageing.
