I notice when chubby people lose a lot of weight, they tend to look older. Thoughts?
Younger people definitely look younger as they lose weight. Older people will look more fit and healthy but face becomes less full so possibly slightly older looking, more wrinkles. I’ve heard it said you have to choose between face and body but being reasonably lean with some muscle is always going to look good whatever age you are.
Younger people have more fat in their faces so people associate this with youthfulness. That said “more fat” isn’t overweight, obese or even “chubby”. People lose fat in their faces as they age. This is less noticeable in overweight people so the aging process appears to happen overnight when they choose to lose weight. The skin in the face is delicate. Gaining excess weight stretches the skin so someone who has lost weight may have saggier skin than someone who has always looked after their health.
Fat is not inert. It damages your body in countless ways. Worrying about looking older is no reason to retain excess fat.
I’ve seen countless before/after photos. In every single one the person has looked better in the after, even those with excess skin. They stand up straighter, their skin looks healthier and they generally seem happier. Most overweight people look like they are slowly dying and that their body is fighting for every second. They look like they aren’t getting proper sleep or nutrients and when you see them move many look like they are in pain. Fewer things age a person more than the way they move their body.
I think a lot depends on how you lose the weight and if you have an active lifestyle. I believe it is important to have some level of activity and fitness. Doesn’t have to be weight training, but be active so that you maintain muscle and will look tremendously better and healthy when you lose weight.
On the other hand, I’ve seen people opt for the surgery where they cut out their stomach and make it so their eating is severely restricted. And yes, they lost a tremendous amount of weight and lost it fast. But from the people I’ve seen do it, they look terrible! I swear, I thought one guy was dying, he looked like a shell of himself and super unhealthy, like a walking skeleton with sagging skin.