Dr. Aruni Malwatta, a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, has challenged the common belief that people begin to age later in life, revealing that the aging process actually begins as early as their 30s.
Speaking at the opening of a wellness center, she explained that aging is not confined to people in their 60s; even those in their 30s begin to experience the effects of aging.
Dr. Malwatta elaborated that while growth in height, weight, muscle mass, and bone density occurs during childhood and slows down by age 21, muscle mass remains stable until 30.
After this age, she noted, the body starts to deteriorate unless actively maintained.
“Muscle mass begins to decline, and everything starts to decay after 30,” she said.
As a nutritional physician at IDH Hospital and a Ministry of Health expert, Dr. Malwatta emphasized the importance of weight management and regular exercise to maintain the body’s health well into later years.
She advised that with proper care, muscle mass can be preserved, enabling people to maintain good health and vitality well into their 80s.
Dr. Malwatta also pointed out that aging-related changes are gradual in the 30s and 40s but become more noticeable by the 50s and 60s, urging individuals to prioritize maintaining muscle mass as they age.
