So what exactly is ‘biological age’? Whereas your chronological age is your official age – dictated by the passing of calendar years – your biological age describes the state of your body. It’s directly impacted by your lifestyle choices: how well you look after your body in terms of exercise, healthy eating, alcohol consumption, smoking, hydration, aerobic fitness, weight management, stress and so on.
And the impact of healthy living is significant. A study published in 2015 analysed the biological ages of approximately 1,000 38-year-olds. The differences within this group were eye-opening: biological ages ranged from 28 to 61 years.
Yes, you read that right: it’s perfectly possible to have a biological age younger than your ‘real’ age – and this matters, not only in terms of preserving youthful energy levels, but also because it correlates directly with your risk of disease and premature death.