Attractive People May Live Longer, Study Says

Researchers suggest that being considered pretty or handsome may offer specific social advantages that lead to a longer, healthier life.

Exercising regularly, consuming a healthy diet, and not smoking are known to promote longevity and extend a person's health span. Scientists have also discovered that biological factors, such as telomere length, genetics, and cellular functioning, play critical roles in how long a person lives.

Sociodemographic factors, including marital status, income, and education level, can also influence health outcomes and longevity. For example, some research suggests that married people may manage their blood sugar more effectively than unattached folks.

In a new study published in Social Science and Medicine, researchers from Arizona State University and the University of Texas at Austin investigated another factor that may affect life expectancy. Specifically, the team looked at whether physical attractiveness could affect how long a person might live.

The 'attractiveness advantage'

The study involved 8,386 participants from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which followed male and female high school graduates from 1957 throughout their lifetime.

The team had independent judges rate the participants' attractiveness on an 11-point scale using high school yearbook photos. They also accounted for factors that could influence life expectancy, such as family background, physical health, and income.

After comparing the attractiveness ratings to the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study data, the scientists found that people who scored in the lowest one-sixth of the attractiveness scale had a nearly 17% higher mortality risk than individuals with average looks.

However, mortality risks among participants considered good-looking were similar to those of people rated as having average attractiveness. So, being in the upper echelon of prettiness did not provide any added longevity benefits over being average-looking.

When the team looked at sex differences, they found that at age 20, the life expectancy of women rated least attractive was two years less than other groups. Moreover, men considered unattractive had a life expectancy of one year less.

Still, the study did not prove that pretty or handsome individuals live longer. Moreover, the participants were primarily non-Hispanic white individuals from one state, so the results might not be the same among other groups.

Nonetheless, the researchers say the findings underscore the potential health impacts of society's perception of attractiveness. The results also remind us that beauty is only skin deep and highlight the need to treat all people with kindness and respect, regardless of perceived physical appearance.