Viva columnist Dr Libby Weaver shares her advice on ageing and how to reframe the conversation around it.
I’m often asked to share my insights on ageing, and as a nutritional biochemist, it’s a space I understand deeply. I have the knowledge to support people to move through life with
strong, vibrant health. Yet, it’s a space I’m hesitant to occupy. My hesitation has never been about a lack of understanding, but rather a discomfort with the narrative itself and the way the conversation is so often framed.
Because much of what we hear about ageing is not really about health at all – it’s about appearance, about preserving youth, smoothing lines, holding onto a version of ourselves we’re told we should not want to lose.
Too much of the conversation about ageing cultivates fear. Women, in particular, are bombarded with messages, advertisements and campaigns designed to foster fear in the external processes of ageing. Skin wrinkles, lines, spots, stretches – all of it must be prevented, treated or hidden. And while I understand where that desire comes from, I don’t believe it serves us in the way we think it does.
If I had to sum up in one word how I feel about ageing, it would be “grateful”. Ageing is a privilege, and I’m just joyful to be on Earth for as long as I get to be here. But the truth is, I actually don’t think about ageing at all. The things I do for my body and my health come from an innate desire to give my body what it needs to thrive each and every day. Those principles apply whether I’m 20, 50 or 97. If there are things – like let’s say tight skin – that I notice, my brain inquires, “what’s that about? I probably need some water”. “Oh dear, I must be ageing”, doesn’t enter the chat.
Dr Libby Weaver believes ageing is a privilege.
One of the joys of exploring the hundreds of biochemical processes taking place in the body each day is a bone-deep appreciation for how miraculous our bodies are. We truly are extraordinary. And that applies whether we have lines around our eyes, breasts that touch our navel, or a slower pace of walking than previously.
I could name 500 things about you that are more interesting than what happens to (for) us as we age. The electrical impulses that keep your heart beating, moment by moment. The way your body produces millions of new red blood cells every second – and can also recycle the iron in the old ones. The intricate communication between your brain and gut, shaping how you feel, think and respond to the world. Or the fact that, right now, your body is repairing, regulating and recalibrating in ways you will never consciously notice.
The irony is that living in fear of, or stressing out about, ageing drives bodily processes that speed it up. Restrictive eating, overexercising, undersleeping and the pressure to maintain a certain appearance all signal to the body that it’s not safe to relax. Over time, this can disrupt sleep, blood sugar regulation, skin health and overall energy. In other words, the very systems we’re trying to preserve can be compromised by the way we’re trying to preserve them.
There’s also an emotional cost. When the focus is on correcting or resisting change, it can create a subtle but persistent sense of not being enough. Caring about how you look is human. Yet, when youth becomes the priority, it can draw attention away from what the body truly needs to function well – nourishment, sunshine, strength, flexibility (in body and mind), rest and a more supportive internal environment.
So what actually matters as we age? Protecting the foundations of our health. Supporting stable energy and circadian rhythm, maintaining muscle mass, nourishing the brain (nervous system) and liver, caring for hormonal health, and prioritising deep, restorative sleep. These are the things that shape how we feel each day – our clarity, resilience and capacity to engage with life. But they’re not things to be pursued in an effort to reverse or slow down the very normal and natural process of ageing. They’re the foundations we need to support the body to function well over time. Because every system in the body relies on this support.
Our energy depends on how well we regulate blood sugar, nourish our cells, and respond to sunlight and darkness. Our strength is influenced by how we move and maintain muscle, as well as the quality of what we eat. Our mood and mental clarity are shaped by the health of the brain and nervous system, and the nutrients available to them – iron is particularly important for this. Sleep underpins all of it, allowing the body to repair, regulate and reset. When we shift our focus to these fundamentals, something changes. We move from trying to control how the body looks, to supporting and living with more gratitude for how it works. And in doing so, we often find we not only feel better, but relate to ourselves in a far more tender and sustainable way.
Dr Libby Weaver PhD is a nutritional biochemist, 13 times best-selling author and international keynote speaker. For more on balancing your hormones, visit Drlibby.com
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