Research reveals that middle-aged men may age faster due to ‘eternal chemicals’
A new study finds that PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are associated with accelerated aging in middle-aged men.
What we think is a compliment may actually be taken as a compliment. The phrase “You look good for your age” is particularly poignant.
Howie Mandel expressed his disdain for the comment during a recent appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark.” The comedian and longtime judge on “America’s Got Talent” turned 70 in November.
“That doesn’t make sense,” co-host Kelly Ripa said, surprised at Mandel’s age, to which Mandel responded, “What do you mean it doesn’t make sense?”
Co-host Mark Consuelos tried to clarify his comment by complimenting Mandel’s appearance, saying he “looked great,” but that explanation didn’t sit well with Mandel.
“Do I look great? It means nothing to me,” Mandel said. “I don’t like it, because it’s a warning, because if you tell someone you’re 70 years old, they’ll say, ‘You look great[for your age].'”
He added: “That’s like saying, ‘Smart for a fool.'” “Oh, you look smart. You look smart.”
Chloe Bean, a qualified marriage and family therapist who specializes in trauma, said the comment could create shame because it “reinforces the message that aging is something to be apologized for and to be avoided.”
Bean said that even if it’s meant to be flattering, “looking good for your age” can be taken as an insult because it “suggests pressure to look different than your age,” which can reinforce the idea that your worth is measured by your appearance.
Mandel is not alone in feeling this way.
Jennifer Aniston previously said in a 2023 interview with British Vogue that she “cannot stand” people telling her that she “looks good for her age.”
“As a societal habit, we say, ‘Well, you’re at that stage, so, according to your age…’I don’t even know what that means,” she said.
Commenting on someone’s appearance, regardless of age or weight, reinforces the belief that appearance is most important to that person, Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, regional medical director at the Eating Recovery Center, previously told USA TODAY.
“These comments about whether your body is acceptable or not are a reminder that you are not worth more than your body…and that you have to present yourself a certain way for the world to find you acceptable,” she said. “It just reinforces that kind of superficial, body-focused thinking that we know is very painful and harmful to each of us, because we are more than this vessel that carries us.”
Bean says better alternatives include options such as:
- “I’m always so happy to see you.”
- “You have such great energy.”
- “I always look forward to conversation.”
“These non-appearance-based compliments are great because they focus on the person’s qualities and connections rather than their physical appearance,” she explained.
Contributor: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
