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

BY PRANAVESH SIVAKUMAR

Colombo, Feb 25 (Daily Mirror) - 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.