Embrace Aging: Body Image, Confidence & Finding Value at Any Age
A new talk show, “Aging Untold,” launched this week with a focus on the challenges and opportunities of later life, offering advice to aging populations, family caregivers, and those preparing for their own futures. The show, which premiered on February 25th, features a panel of experts including gerontologist Sam Cradduck and aging life care manager Amy O’Rourke.
While societal pressures often focus on reversing the visible signs of aging, experts on “Aging Untold” suggest a shift in perspective. O’Rourke encourages viewing aging as a “superpower,” while Cradduck emphasizes embracing the “battle scars” of a life lived. “You’ve got to be happy with who you are and I think that’s where we fail so much is we’re always trying to paint things and make things appear better so other people spot what we want them to see,” Cradduck said.
Dr. Ray Rogers, a board-certified physician appearing on the show, noted a dichotomy in how people approach body image as they age. Some prioritize maintaining a youthful appearance, while others shift their focus to physical function. Research from the Canadian Journal on Aging supports this, indicating that while older women may initially share similar appearance-related dissatisfaction with younger women, this can lessen as they prioritize strength and balance.
Rogers explained that the body naturally adapts with age, prioritizing vital organs like the brain, heart, and lungs. Resources are then diverted from tissues, skin, and hair. “The body is trying to adapt and leverage resources on the organs that are the most important…and so now your tissues and your skin and your hair, they’re the least priority,” Rogers said.
Cradduck likened the aging community to “classic cars,” suggesting that signs of use – “a little road rash and some dings” – are evidence of a life fully engaged. “If we age perfectly, what life did we really live?” she asked. “I think they’re the battle scars of a life well-lived and we need to embrace it and not be so worried about what we look like.”
Beyond accepting physical changes, the show’s hosts highlighted the value of experience and the confidence that comes with age. O’Rourke described enjoying the opportunity to challenge younger perspectives with the wisdom gained from years of experience. “I like blowing young people out of the water…and then you just throw a zinger out there of your experience and you watch them stop and listen,” she said. She also stressed the importance of sharing experiences, even those related to feelings of invisibility or irrelevance.
Aging well coach Katherine Ambrose suggested that the growing visibility and vocalization of Baby Boomers and Generation X may reshape societal perceptions of aging. “I think that’s going to be a change that we just naturally see…like, ‘I’m not going to move away quietly, I want to offer my wisdom, I want to participate, I want to engage and be involved,’ and so younger people might have a little harder time dismissing people,” Ambrose said.
“Aging Untold” airs Mondays at 10 a.m., according to 13abc. The show also recently featured a segment on a wearable defibrillator saving a heart patient’s life, and a discussion of mobility exercises.