Is The Anti-Aging Industry Bad for Our Health?

It's time to change how we think about and talk about aging in the media.

We are continuously bombarded with messages at every turn urging us to join the war against aging (at a cost). We listen to the "anti-aging sirens" sing sweet words of encouragement (and promises) in our ears whenever we turn on the television, see a movie, or read a magazine (even those allegedly aimed at "older women"). "Youth is beauty," the sirens sing. "You don't really want to age... do you? Who will hire you? Who will love you? Who will desire you? Come with us, and be young, young, young... forever."

If advertisers really want the post 50 dollars, why don't they feature real boomers in their campaigns, not airbrushed 30-year olds? And how about offering products that will solve some of post 50 life's challenges in a way that is respectful and realistic? The way it is now, advertisers play on our insecurities about aging, sexuality and desirability.

The media in which the ads appear are often just as guilty. A new study finds that the absence of older women in magazines wreaks havoc with our self-esteem. It isn't limited to just the images on the covers: An analysis of editorial and advertising images reveals that despite proportions of older readers ranging as high as 23 percent, magazines (even those supposedly geared to women over 40) show older women infrequently, if at all. Magazines geared toward older women generally show young, thin, wrinkle-free women on their pages . . . an "ideal" that's impossible to sustain, even with the use of Botox, fillers, or plastic surgery. Now experts are saying these media messages threaten to cause eating disorders, low self-esteem, and loss of sexuality in post50 women.

Denise Lewis, a gerontologist at the University of Georgia and author of the study, wrote:

It does lead to problems of negative body issues. It leads to issues that have people denying aging, so going to great lengths to continue to look like that ideal of a youthful person.

It's no wonder that plastic surgery, Botox, fillers and other expensive means to re-capture the glow of youth are on the rise for both men and women. While everyone should do whatever they want with their money and their bodies, it's important to do it for the right reasons.

Isn't it time to change how we view aging? Have we created a society of "haves" and "have nots" based not so much on how much we have, but on how much we can spend on looking younger? Have we completely removed any opportunity for a level playing field? Have we fooled ourselves to the point where we actually believe we are younger just by erasing crow's feet with Botox? And do we think we fool others?

But more importantly, isn't it time to rise up and demand that the media -- and the advertisers that support magazines, television, and radio -- change how they engage with us?

In a recent article in Life Science, Denise Lewis was asked, "Could consumer pressure lead to breakthroughs with older women, especially with the baby boom generation aging?"

Her hopeful response?

I do think that boomers will bring that change. The baby boomers have historically not done very much in a quiet way.

Time to get noisy.

Find more inspiring video, audio, and images at Growing Bolder.

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Staying connected is a powerful tool: "Friend" me on Facebook and "Tweet" me on Twitter (BGrufferman). For tips on living your best life after 50 visit www.bestofeverythingafter50.com. And remember this: Turning 50 is not just an age . . . it's a movement.

 

 

 

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Comments

[caroldoyel]

11:59 PM on 02/19/2012

You are bold Barbara and I love that about you! Speaking truth on aging is bold"-).

[Sally Prangley]

09:58 AM on 02/13/2012

There is no greater beauty than health and happiness. Taking care of your body and soul is what living well is all about, and it is unique for each person. Barbara Hannah Grufferman, in her quest for those of us aged 50+ to embrace our age with gusto and realism, provides positive and action-oriented messages on ways to do this, time and again. Thank you, Barbara!

[Madgew]

04:00 PM on 02/10/2012

As always a thoughtful article. Living here in LA LA land you see it everyday in women and younger women. Stretched to the max and big full lips. It is hard to accept aging but I would like to think I am doing a good job for me.

[Fudgefase]

03:29 PM on 02/10/2012

I was watching one of the 'real housewives' shows the other night. (OK, shame on me but I had had a hard day, was tired and just wanted to switch my head off for an hour before bed). We are going to have some really freakish looking old ladies in the years to come. These women have messed up their faces so badly already.

[Fudgefase]

03:25 PM on 02/10/2012

Show aging stars getting hooked up with age appropriate co-stars instead of young women younger than their daughters.
Show women who have NOT been plastic-surgeried half to death in films. Show that aging is natural and that it doesn't have to be so 'ugly' that we don't show it.
Stop getting rid of older women from current affairs programmes and as news anchors. For goodness sake - sometimes experience and age bring the kind of authority to ask these difficult questions and not rely on flashing your eyelashes to get a reaction!
And for goodness sake - stop running away from what is a natural part of life.

[jfrentzen]

12:51 PM on 02/10/2012

The marketing people aren't dummies. They pitch the younger/youthful look at older men and women on purpose, for a reason. Also, there are plenty of magazine and TV ads that portray middle-aged and older -- but not so much in the national media, which tries to appeal to all age groups.

[cherylam]

04:22 PM on 02/09/2012

I love Kristine's quote of George Bernard Shaw, "I want to be all used up when I die." My friend's mother just died this week at a little over 100 years old. She was beautiful even then. When asked by family and friends during the last week, what would she do differently, she answered, "Nothing. I have been in love with life. I feel passionate about something every day, learn something new every day, and am grateful. I had no time to regret." I was so touched by that wisdom. It showed in her eyes and smile, even until the end. I want to be just like that! I will try to feel as youthful and vibrant as possible, for as long as I can...for myself! I do wear a little make-up, but mostly mascara & eye-liner. I highlight my hair because I want to. Simple as that. I don't want plastic surgery, nor Botox. I don't judge others who want it, nor do I care. But the obsession with youth and thin body image has been such a huge detriment to joy in many people's lives that the consciousness of society has become focused on fear (of not having it, or of loss once they have it). I'm going to enjoy whatever time I have left, and continue to cultivate my passion from the inside out! Great article!

[Barbara Hannah Grufferma]

11:09 AM on 02/10/2012

Thank you for this beautiful comment, Cherylam . . . embracing your age and enjoying every minute of it is the key to a great life after 50.
All best,
Barbara

[Debi Drecksler]

03:02 PM on 02/09/2012

I smile a lot! It is the most natural and inexpensive facelift on the market! p.s. I just turned 61 and I'm still (as my husband says) a hottie!

[Phytoresearcher]

02:49 PM on 02/09/2012

To extend lifespan is not the objective of the scientists involved in aging research. The holy grail is to increase HealthSpan, the number of years one lives absent the diseases of aging, specifically Type II Diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and dementia. One very promising compound that appears to have the ability to increase Healthspan dramatically is a form of resveratrol called transmax. In human clinical trials at Albert Einstein Med. College, Harvard, Stanford Longevity Center, and several European institutions Transmax was found to be a strong chemo preventative against cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

[Sajwert]

01:29 PM on 02/09/2012

The advantages of growing old for me. I've learned patience. I'm more tolerant and forgiving as I've learned that I now need tolerance and forgiveness. I've learned to care less and to obsess less. I've learned to sit quietly without need of outside noise. I believe I'm a bit wiser now than I was even 10 years ago. I've learned the utter joy of listening to my great grandchildren's laughter and to prize it above all else in the world.

I'm glad that we have only one life to live. I would hate to think that there is really reincarnation. As good, bad, happy and sad my life has been, I would never want to repeat it. I feel rather sorry for those who believe that outward beauty makes people think that they are younger than they are. Underneath every dyed head is the truth -- the hair is grey.

[RhiannonRings]

12:36 PM on 02/09/2012

I know a woman in her early 60s who has done the facelift, gets botox, fillers, etc. Her argument is that she feels young on the inside, and wants her appearance to match that. She wants to look the best she can for her age. I would never do any of this myself, but she chooses to. It's just kind of weird because I've known her for twenty-five years and her face looks smoother and tighter now. It makes me kind of uncomfortable and I'm not sure as to why, exactly. I'm 48 for the record here.

[Barbara Hannah Grufferma]

11:13 AM on 02/10/2012

There's no reason to ever judge others (and it does not sound at all as though you are) on what they choose to do with their lives, or their wrinkles. I always advise those who are thinking about plastic surgery or even less invasive procedures like Botox, to make sure they're taking these steps for the right reasons. It sounds like your friend is happy with her decision, and you are good with yours.
Thanks for reading and commenting,
Barbara

[darquelourd]

12:19 PM on 02/09/2012

I think first you folks obsessed with staying young need to realize you are a minority and represent about 5% of the population though you dominate 99.95% of our media. In other words you have no perspective or context, your whole "vision" of life is skewed. That's probably why your lives suck and you feel restless and dissatisfied, NOT because you are growing older which happens to EVERYBODY.

[whenicyouucme]

11:43 AM on 02/09/2012

if women want to stay young with out poisoning themselves. Sahara Serum's Argan oil is the answer. plus washing your face often with hot water and using upf sunscreen to protect from the sun damaging uv rays. Ever notice women in other countries do not have access to the beauty lines the west has? yet their skin looks incredible? They're not poisoning themselves. Argan oil is a wrinkle reducer on it's own. also works amazing for the hair, no frizz makes it shiny and glossy. I kind of wish women every where were to look into more natural remedies on how to make themselves look good with out having to pack on chemicals.

[VioletDatura]

01:00 PM on 02/09/2012

I use argan oil on my hair. It makes it shiny, but doesn't control the frizz at all. I use avocado oil on my face, but as someone over 50 years old (excellent diet, exercise, and skin care regime, also in the lower spectrum of the acceptable weight for my height - 5'11) my skin is not as peaches-n-cream as it once was. After 50, your pores enlarge, and the color becomes uneven. Oil, I'm finding, isn't helping that aspect at all. Believe me, I'm an expert in my own skin care, reading and trying everything I can for many years now. Hot water is one of the worse things for my skin.

It's hard to compare my circumstances to other women - different genetic make up, different environmental factors, different history of care, diet, etc.

[Phytoresearcher]

02:50 PM on 02/09/2012

Try Celle anti-aging skin cream. It is the only one that was shown to improve skin quality in an evaluation of over 300 such products.

[whenicyouucme]

06:30 PM on 02/09/2012

as some one who studied the effects of pure Argan oil, I know it controls frizz. I lived with frizz my entire life and not even bio silk could tame it. Unfortunately because so many Americans are not educated on what 'good argan oil' is they're buying rancid, (argan oil that sat for more than 2 years) or deodorized Argan oil. This process heats the oil up to 180 degrees which takes out more than half the nutritional value of the oil. Plus when people buy Argan oil in a plastic or clear bottle they're only throwing their money away. When buying any oil including olive it should always be stored either in light proof tin or in a dark glass bottle so it doesn't lead to spoilage. I am not sure what brand you bought but what ever brand it was, it didn't do what properly stored argan oil does for hair.

[Sue Brayne]

10:55 AM on 02/09/2012

Great article. Since my book Sex, Meaning and the Menopause came out, I have been running workshops about menopause and aging. How the media portrays the menopause and aging always comes up. One participant said, 'Anti-aging indeed. Who are they trying to kid!' Too right.

[playflute2]

10:48 AM on 02/09/2012

Since I am now 67, I can say that I know a lot of beautiful older women, who are level headed about this aging thing and don't spend tons of money trying to still look 25+/-. I think the key here is to live life each day, doing something that you have a real passion to do, and enjoying the wonders that this world holds out to us. Perhaps, because I am able to do something that I am passionate about each day (I am a private music teacher and performer) I also do not get all worked up about the media's need to have a forever young society. Life is good, just keep that in mind and don't believe everything you see or read.