Almost everyone knows that one year of a dog’s age is worth seven people years. Are you curious about how your chronological age differs from your biological or real age? My husband and I recently completed a FREE online health test to determine the difference between our biological age and our calendar or chronological age. Your biological age takes into account your general health condition and those factors that put you at risk for disease or illness related to the aging process.
For example, my husband’s calendar age is 48 but his real age, or the age that his body thinks he is – is 56 years old. Houston – we have a problem. (instructions and links for taking the free online test are covered below.)
At first I was skeptical about this being another money-making Internet scam. I had visions of filling out this assessment and then having to pay $39.99 to get the results. I also had reservations about how valid an online health test could be until I took the test, received the free report and did more research about the company, its medical expertise, and its products.
The RealAge Test is a patented product developed by medical and scientific experts at RealAge, Inc. that uses a unique metric to generate health reports. The information in the reports are a result of reviewing over 25,000 medical studies. Those studies revealed 125 different factors that can influence the rate of aging and those factors are used in the assessment. The RealAge Test is available in over 20 languages and since 1999, has been taken by over 17 million people. It is basically designed for those people who want a valid, understandable measurement of their current health status. Click here to read more about the science and philosophy behind the Real Age Test.
Once you complete the free test, you will receive an in-depth personal health report by email or by logging back onto their web site with your password. The free health report for my husband is 14 pages long and lists each personal health risk identified from the test followed by detailed recommendations on how to lower the risks of life-threatening diseases. The report also provides detailed recommendations within certain time frames for slowing the aging process that is causing the age gap. For example, my husband’s report says if he follows the action plan, his real age could be 48 by October 2, 2007.
The test takes about 30-45 minutes, and you will need to gather some information before you take the test. The 6 major health areas of the test are:
Physical Activities
Nutrition (know how many milligrams or IU amounts you take of each vitamin supplement)
Stress and Social Support
General Health (know your overall and HDL levels of cholesterol, your body mass index or BMI, your resting heart rate, and your average blood pressure)
Yours and Your Family’s Medical History
Lifestyle and Safety
RealAge also offers 65 other interactive health assessments to screen for your risk of a specific health problem or disease and a detailed report on how to reduce that risk. According to their web site, 40 of these assessments are free. They provide personalized advice on things like diabetes, skin care, weight loss, menopause, financial health, sleep, anxiety, pain management, cholesterol, stress management and vitamins. You can also find daily practical solutions to problems like jet lag, sunburns, bites and stings, hangovers, and motion sickness, to name a few.
RealAge is a popular consumer health media company that has been featured on 20/20, Good Morning America, the Today show, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. RealAge experts have published several books including the New York Times #1 best seller, RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be?, written by Dr. Michael F. Roizen. The company broadcasts a hit television show in Europe called Your RealAge.
I do not suggest that the results of this health test should take the place of regular visits to your family doctor. I found that in our case, the RealAge Test reports provide useful practical information that can improve our general health.
