Why do people in America (including Asian-Americans) look older than people in Asia at the same age?

Question

This is a geographical observation, not a racial one.

The comparison equally applies to Asian-Americans versus Asians in Asia.

I'm referring to comparatively WELL-OFF Asian countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. Malnutrition or undernutrition are not problems in these places.

Here are two pictures for you to compare...

Hong Kong girls at age 18: http://image56.webshots.com/156/6/33/2/405863302fbXjVZ_ph.jpg

Asian-American girls in college freshman year (18 or 19):
http://community.webshots.com/photo/526368292/1526381052069064250EfaIWD

So how can you explain it? Since it's not racial, it has to do more with environment than genes...

(I'm not the only "Yahoo Answerer" to observe this either. Yozora, an English lady living in Japan, has noticed this too and she mentioned it in one of her posts.)

To be more accurate, this is what Yozora wrote:
"In case you were unaware of this, Japanese women (and men) usually look a LOT younger than their actual years in comparison to Western women."

Answer 1

I have cousins in Hong Kong(approx. some age), and they look so much younger than me. My guess is that in Asian country, they value "cute" much more than "sexy". They can be 30 and still carry Hello Kitty key chain around. Also, they hate getting tanned. it's not so much they put on tons of sunscreen; they don't even go outdoor! maybe the avoidance of sun spare them a few wrinkle and sun damage

Answer 2

Hong Kong has much to offer for you as a customer, if you are coming here on business or for delight Hong Kong always has a place for you and with Hotelbye you could make it happen the visit to this city. Hong Kong is really a city of charm. The complexity of an global town, ethnic range and cosmopolitan life style are in ab muscles primary of Hong Kong's attractions. The Peak is among typically the most popular attractions in Hong Kong however not the only one. The Giant Buddha, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Ocean Park are simply some of the girls of Hong Kong.

Answer 3

Think of it like you think of your favorite sweater. If you are not careful with your favorite sweater it wrinkles, shrinks, gets tattered and warn. Asians just come pre washed and pre shrunk. What a silly question. Racial and genetics are the same thing, genes mark you as being from a particular race. Its not bad to ask the question i.e. in this sadistic youth focused society how can we increase the attractiveness of europeans by injecting genes from asians, but we are pretty much doing that anyway. We will all be brown in a few decades.

Answer 4

WHAT, what? What??!!

Do I hear my name being taken in vain????!!!! (No wonder my ears were burning...!!)
; D

Yes, I DID say that "Japanese women (and men) usually look a LOT younger than their actual years in comparison to Western women." (I should have added - and men!)

I was only comparing Japanese people with Westerners of a similar age though - I don't know many American-Asians, and those that I DO know, I don't ask their age...!

IF there's a difference between (for example) 2 Japanese born women of the same age, one of them who was brought up in America and the other in Japan, I'd guess it was down to the pollution and the 'adulterated' food!

(Cardboard MacNuggets, anyone??! Genetically mutilated rice, anyone??)
; )

Answer 5

I 'm not so certain that it doesn't have some racial undertones..for example as people age and their hair goes gray...their skin also changes colour...so usually white people dye their hair a little bit lighter than their original colour..but asian skin still retains a lot of colour so that they can dye their hair black and it doesn't look incongruous.....I would have to say that also it may have genetic links...there are very famous americans who did not age badly..Lena Horne is one.Lauren Hutton is another..and they seem to have a facial structure with high cheek bones that keeps them from developing a jowl like look.
Also affluent asian women are more apt to stay out of the sun and take better care of themselves and their skin.

Answer 6

in my opinion, being an asian american myself i don't think there's that significant of a difference in the 2 pics provided. the "hong kong" girls are at the beach w/their hair pulled back, no makeup while the american girls both have their long hair down (which already leads me to think older) and they have light make up on. i think american girls typically TRY to look older, but i think asians in general almost always look young. what i am trying to say is that if the asian americans in the pic you provided were on the beach with their hair pulled back, and no make up i think they'd look just like the other girls.

Answer 7

I believe it's based on many factors. I believe the two main ones are stress and growth hormones that are used in the production of our food here in the U.S.

Answer 8

Poorer diet in America, plus exposure to more agricultural chemicals.

Answer 9

the pace of life the american is far different which leads to massive amounts of stress which in turn leads to aging faster

Answer 10

A - its genetic
B - its food and lifestyle
C - its the texture of the skin that betrays the age