People begin to age in their 30s: Lifestyle Medicine Physician

• Says regular exercise and proper diet can help maintain muscle mass even until 80 years of age

BY PRANAVESH SIVAKUMAR  

Contrary to popular people’s belief that they start ageing  later in life, Dr. Aruni Malwatta, a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, broke  the misconception that the period of people beginning to age is as  early as their 30s.  

Speaking at an opening ceremony of a wellness centre, she  said, “Don’t think that people in their 60s are old. Not only them.  

People in their 30s itself begin to age. Therefore, we should be  careful about our bodies, lifestyle, stress management and other things  in order to always maintain a happy life”.  

“Everyone as a child grows up in height, weight, muscle  mass and bone density up until 15 and after that it slows a little  bit. Growth would still happen until 21. The muscle mass stays stable  until 30 years of age. After that age, nothing grows or is stable in the  body unless you really maintain it. Muscle mass and everything will  start decaying after 30 years. That’s what happens anyway once one begins  to age. Muscle mass goes down, everything starts deteriorating – these  happen at the age of 30”, she elaborated.  

Dr. Malwatta, also a nutritional physician at the IDH  Hospital, advised by being really careful about their weight until 30,  they can maintain their body by exercising and diet even until 80.   
“When we look at our bodies, they start decaying,  deteriorating and ageing at 30. That has always been a known fact. If  you’re after 30, you have to start maintaining your muscle mass,” Dr.  Malwatta, also serving in the Ministry of Health, added.  

Also revealing, ageing-related changes start at 30. It is  very slow when you’re in your 30s. Quite slow in your 40s and quite  significant when you’re in your 50’ & 60s. That’s the principle.