The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciencesJan 24, 2024

Body Size, Diet Quality, and Their Links to Biological Aging Over Time

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 28, 2026

Abstract

Data from 1,041 participants suggests that lifestyle changes may influence .

Positive associations were found between weight and epigenetic aging measures at both time points, particularly for DunedinPACE.
A nonlinear relationship was observed for weight change, with stable weight correlating with the lowest epigenetic aging at follow-up.
Declining diet quality, measured by the , showed negative associations with epigenetic age both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
Weight gain is associated with increased epigenetic age, while the effects of weight loss on epigenetic aging require further investigation.
Similar patterns were noted for other body size measures and dietary scores, indicating a potential link between lifestyle factors and epigenetic aging.

Simplified

Epigenetic age is an emerging marker of health that is highly predictive of disease and mortality risk. There is a lack of evidence on whether lifestyle changes are associated with changes in . We used data from 1 041 participants in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study with blood DNA methylation measures at baseline (1990-1994, mean age: 57.4 years) and follow-up (2003-2007, mean age: 68.8 years). The (AHEI-2010), the Mediterranean Dietary Score, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index were used as measures of diet quality, and weight, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio as measures of body size. Five age-adjusted epigenetic aging measures were considered: GrimAge, PhenoAge, PCGrimAge, PCPhenoAge, and DunedinPACE. Multivariable linear regression models including restricted cubic splines were used to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of body size and diet quality with epigenetic aging. Associations between weight and epigenetic aging cross-sectionally at both time points were positive and appeared greater for DunedinPACE (per SD: β ~0.24) than for GrimAge and PhenoAge (β ~0.10). The longitudinal associations with weight change were markedly nonlinear (U-shaped) with stable weight being associated with the lowest epigenetic aging at follow-up, except for DunedinPACE, for which only weight gain showed a positive association. We found negative, linear associations for AHEI-2010 both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Other adiposity measures and dietary scores showed similar results. In middle-aged to older adults, declining diet quality and weight gain may increase epigenetic age, while the association for weight loss may require further investigation. Our study sheds light on the potential of weight management and dietary improvement in slowing aging processes.

Key numbers

0.24

Weight Association with

Coefficient for weight and DunedinPACE at follow-up

0.10

Diet Quality Change Impact

Decrease in per increase in AHEI-2010

1 of 3

Stable Weight Association

Stable weight associated with lowest measures

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Body Size, Diet Quality, and Their Links to Biological Aging Over Time

Abstract

Key numbers

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