In a world where it seems like everyone is battling the effects of aging, social media is flooded with beauty solutions and photo filters, but an article published in March by the Yale School of Medicine found that early-stage cancer rates are on the rise among people between the ages of 18 and 49.
As I approach 50, I am astonished and horrified to count the number of people I know in their 30s, 40s and 50s who have been diagnosed with and died from various forms of cancer in the past decade, yet most seem more preoccupied with how young they look than seeing a doctor and getting a medical checkup.
Anti-aging treatments are booming around the world. Statista.com values the anti-aging market at $62 billion in 2021, and predicts it will rise to $93 billion by 2027. Whether it’s weight loss drugs, injectable fillers, non-invasive liposuction, or facelifts, there’s no longer any shame in publicly announcing that one has undergone one of these procedures. “Influencer” videos are flooding social media, showcasing the procedure with before-and-after photos, whetting viewers’ desire to look even younger.
Statistics show that most people who undergo cosmetic surgery are women, but the number of men undergoing cosmetic surgery is on the rise. We live in a society that hypocritically denounces body stigma and ageism, yet calls for equality seem to go unheard. Anti-aging ads are ubiquitous, but self-acceptance ads are rare.
With early-onset diseases on the rise, regular health checks should take priority over solutions to get rid of fine lines and cellulite. But in a society that values appearance over physical and mental health, with billionaires like Jeff Bezos investing in the anti-aging market, how can we influence everyone to take better care of themselves?
We’ve made great strides in healthcare innovation, but imagine what would happen if the money invested in anti-aging research was instead invested in cancer research: if we’re willing to pay thousands of dollars to look younger, surely it would make sense to spend a few hundred dollars to detect deadly diseases early?
I have never had cosmetic surgery, so I don’t criticize others for trying to look their best. But when do we ever appreciate being alive and having the ability to continue to age? It always baffles me when people lie about their age or don’t tell us the year they were born. Birthdays are something to be thankful for. As more and more people I know suffer from deadly health issues, I feel even happier to have the privilege to wake up to every morning.
