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29 March 2024

Most obsessed with looking young: Indians, Pakistanis, Arabs…

Nevertheless, despite being the least popular skincare method. (Shutterstock)

Published
By Staff

A majority (70 per cent) of residents in India, Pakistan and the Mena region consider looking young to be 'extremely' or 'very' important, results from a survey show (men 69 per cent and women 75 per cent).

A YouGov study, conducted amongst 855 respondents to understand perceptions of youthfulness, ageing and the steps people take to stay looking young, reveals residents in India and Pakistan (76 per cent) and the GCC (74 per cent) are the most preoccupied with looking young (North Africa – 68 per cent and the Levant – 63 per cent).

For a majority of respondents, when considering what ‘looking young’ means, being active and energetic springs to mind the most (75 per cent), followed by being fit and strong (50 per cent) and feeling youthful (37 per cent) – all three were equally represented by men and women.

When asked about which measures they take to stay young, most favour a natural approach, with the greatest proportion claiming eating healthily helps (65 per cent).

This is more prevalent amongst women (73 per cent v 62 per cent of men). Staying positive is the next most popular method (54 per cent), followed by regular exercise (50 per cent) – favoured more by men (52 per cent v 47 per cent of women).

Interestingly, aesthetic procedures (such as Botox, fillers) and cosmetic surgery are the least preferred options amongst respondents (3 and 2 per cent, respectively) and equally unpopular amongst men and women.

Indeed, results suggest respondents prefer to steer clear of artificial methods when it comes to achieving younger looking skin, with drinking lots of water and eating healthily the most popular tactics (both 61 per cent).

Whilst 43 per cent of respondents favour washing their face with soap or face wash, just 11 per cent use anti-aging creams. Botox and other skin procedures emerged again as the least popular options (1 per cent).

Fitness regimes also play an important role in the quest to ‘stay young’, with half of respondents (51 per cent) claiming they do regular cardio exercise such as running, jogging or dancing – equally favoured by half of men and women. 34 per cent also believe in dieting (more popular amongst women (41 per cent v 31 per cent of men), while 33 per cent go to the gym.

Two-thirds (67 per cent) of respondents claim they are against cosmetic surgery. Men expressed this the most (71 per cent v 56 per cent of women). Nevertheless, despite being the least popular skincare method, 23 per cent of respondents believe aesthetic and over-the-counter procedures are acceptable and do help people to look younger – expressed the most amongst women (35 per cent v 18 per cent of men).

(Image via Shutterstock)