Face or Figure?

nanatoone how interesting. Tim Spector is , IMO, someone who knows his stuff.
Non UPFoods and healthy gut bacteria is the way to go.
I’d choose figure over face every time.

healthy weight

Unless you lose excessive weight, go below the recommended BMI, or whatever. I have yet to see any evidence that losing weight causes wrinkles anyway.

The choice isn't either or, except in exceptional circumstances.

I'd go for something in between. Loose some weight and have a few extra wrinkles.

When I was in my 20s I lost a lot of weight and looking at photos from that time my body looked fine but I looked ill in my face. Eventually the weight went back on and I gained a stone for each of my children. I was over 16 stones for many years. Eventually after becoming diabetic a medication change caused me to lose some of the weight, much of it fluid on my legs and I gradually got down to about 13 stones. Losing the fluid on my legs made walking easier and I got fitter too. About a year ago I was put on the weekly injections of ozempic to further reduce my blood sugar. This has caused me to have much reduced appetite and often feel very sick. I'm now down below 10.5 stones. My chins have gone and neck is a bit wrinkly but face seems ok so far. Legs are a bit wrinkly too but trousers hide a multitude of things - if I can get them to stay up! I'm down 3 sizes!

Definitely go for weight loss as you'll feel so much more fit and healthy. I recently walked around Oxford much of the day while my DD and her friend ran the Oxford half marathon. I did nearly 19,000 steps and was still fine. I couldn't have done that a few years ago without being utterly exhausted. Tired and slightly sore feet was all I suffered! I feel fitter than when I was much younger. My blood pressure and blood sugars are much better. Hopefully the queasiness will improve with time.

I have been overweight most of my life. When my daughter got engaged 7 years ago (I was 70), I didn't want to look that size in the wedding photographs. I had less than 6 months to do something about it and went on a healthy eating plan, cutting out processed food and anything I knew wasn't good for me. I lost 3 stone and looked so much better though still not thin. Some wrinkles appeared but I have always believed that if you smile lots, people notice the smile much more than the lack of beauty! Sadly some of the weight crept back on after the wedding, but now I have three lovely grandchildren and want to be around as long as possible to enjoy them and I know my weight is a health factor. After some effort I am now back down to where I was for the wedding, and hope to make even more progress.

However, I still think the most important thing is to smile and have a sunny disposition. The face and figure is definitely secondary.

I started doing the Zoe nutrition plan about six weeks ago and started reading about Ultra processed foods. I have changed so much about what I eat and cannot believe how much better I feel generally and I’ve lost a stone without any effort. I would love to lose another stone and I think that would be wonderful for me. At 67 I am energetic and feel great. My face has always been younger looking (genes, luck) and I look so much better over all. I have tried many diets and they don’t last. I feel like this has changed me forever.

So many factors to consider but health would come first with me. If I had to lose weight to help my health then I would try, which I have and it is so very hard. better to have wrinkles than poor health." La Belle dame son merci", comes to mind.

I have gone the weight way but it all depends how overweight one is. I do have more wrinkles but it’s normal to have wrinkles at 77. My weight was putting pressure on my hip and I want to avoid a second hip replacement. It also made me slow and unable to get up off the ground without something to hold onto plus I was worried I would get diabetes. So my reasons were health reasons. I’m really feeling so much better not lugging a lot of weight around. I can walk for miles at a fast clip and can cut my own toenails again! So for me it was the better choice.

As others have said it depends on the individual.
I lost 1st 10lb this year and I don't seem to have gained any wrinkles! My double chin is less noticeable and everyone thinks I look younger - I'm 69. I think you just need to lose the weight at a sensible pace using diet and exercise and be sure to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated.

only one way to avoid wrinkles, that's to die young. bring on those wrinkles!

Wow! Disgraceful ageism and fat shaming in one thread, surprised Gransnet allows hate speech.

I think a slow steady weight loss will help to prevent our faces looking older. More dramatic weight loss ie strict dieting will have a more detrimental affect. That’s why I advocate portion control - it’s easier than to maintain a healthier weight.

PinkCosmos

You just made me smile !

I too have a big face face, big face body and huge belly and bottom ! I’ve struggled with my weight since I had children and still strive to get to a healthy weight.

I think wrinkles can depend on so many things, including genes, smoking and drinking. I’ve never smoked, drink in moderation and my own dear mum never had wrinkles really to her late 70’s, despite drinking and smoking

I have been a weightloss ping pong ball for over 50 years.

Two years ago I got down to a low for me but roughly mid bmi weight. I felt good and loved wearing my clothes but boy! when I look back now my face was raddled.

Have put about 4 stone (emotional eater), which is way too much.

Another stone off, and my heart-shaped face will emerge.
Another stone after that and my face will still look good and my body will be cuddly, rather than fat. That's where I hope to stick.

I'm an "eat less, move more" dieter, and very good at it. I'm a lousy maintainer, though.

I think I'd like to stay as I am. True, I carry a few extra pounds and my face will never get any better - but I hope people judge me on my actions and how I treat people, rather than my appearance.

I probably fall between two stools and have not achieved perfection in either.

I have recently gone from being 9st 8lbs to 8st 6lbs due to ill health. My face has definitely become more wrinkled and I feel that I look older. My daughter tells me I look like a stick! One or two people have complimented me on the weight lost and said I look great. I suppose it’s just a matter of opinion.

I’m a great believer in portion control - it’s hard at first but you soon become accustomed to eating less. Don’t deprive yourself ( life is too short ) eat a little of everything you enjoy - we all know what’s healthy and the stuff that isn’t.

I think it’s a myth and an excuse not to lose weight, the exception being losing weight due to ill health which will take a toll on your face.

Sometimes I think people are born and blessed with really good genes and will look youthful their whole lives regardless of weight.

You can also inherit the “aged before your time” look where you actually look 10-15 older than your age. I have two friends who look exactly like their mothers looked and my friends are 12 and 15 younger than I am.
Regardless of weight.
USA Gundy

I’d take weight loss over face every time. If only because it makes you feel better…and you’re healthier.

Casdon

I’d go for figure, because I’d rather be healthy than overweight even if it meant a few more wrinkles.

Again that is all relative. I have always been classed as obese, but up until 3 years ago, when I developed a few medical problems, I cycled an average of 100 hilly miles a week, walked 20k steps a day at work, hill walked, walked the dog etc and do not have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or any other such issues, so obese or not I considered my body healthy.
I am now the same weight but due to a few medical conditions, can barely walk to the bathroom some days, don't cycle, lost my job, struggle to walk a half mile with the dog but I am classed as medically malnourished ( and no my problems are not caused by obesity) ......would rather go back 3 years and be active again.

As far as I know the few lines on my face have no bearing on my BP, organ function, or loading on my joints. So keeping my weight well within my BMI is my priority, which I do.

Wrinkles over weight

I can see "Your friends" point of view. Quite a few people I know that have lost weight in later years do get scrawny looking. I think it depends on how much weight "they" want to lose and why. If its health reasons then they should definitely try. Maybe stop when they start to look too thin or when they notice a definite change in their face and neck. I definitely need to lose weight due to my knee problems and also for other health reasons. I just have a lack of will power unfortunately. I know what I should do as I have done it at least twice before I just don't seem to be able to do it. I'm not at my heaviest ever again yet thank goodness but if I'm not careful I will be.