Since today is President Obama's 50th birthday, I thought it might be interesting to discuss why presidents age so much faster than the rest of us. According to Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer of Cleveland Clinic, presidents age two years for every year that they are in office. Therefore, a two-term president will age approximately sixteen years during their time in office. Why do presidents age so much faster than the rest of us? The answer might seem obvious. As most would assume, stress is a big factor as to why presidents age so quickly. Serving as President of the United States is perhaps the most stressful job imaginable. However, Dr. Roizen points to other factors as well that can cause presidents to age at a much quicker rate. He cites the fact that most presidents don't have close friends nearby that they can vent their frustrations to. These frustrations will eventually take a mental and physical toll on a president that can lead to accelerated aging. Dr. Roizen also points out that many presidents don't eat as well as they should, or exercise as much as they should while in office. All of us are aware of the risks associated with poor diet and lack of exercise. Not surprisingly, many former presidents are able to reverse the effects of aging once they are out of office. If serving as president makes one age twice as fast as normal, why would anyone want the job of chief executive? That's a question that only America's former presidents can answer.
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