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Obesity is one of the leading causes of accelerated aging, according to Cooper, If you lose weight, stop smoking, and exercise, he says, you can slow the aging processand make dramatic changes in your looks in a relatively short period of time. A 37-year-old sales director for a Boston computer-distribution company is a prime example. Over six feet tall, he had been considerably overweight most of his like. Then he began to worry that his appearance could be hurting his career. I got tired of people thinking I was the same age as my brother, whos nearly nine years older, he says, When youre fat, people in the business world assume youre out of control. Determined to change, the sales director entered a hospital-based diet program and dropped over 70 pounds. I feeland lookten years younger.he says. At 82, Clarice R. Mc Williams, a retired business owner in Dallas, has the appearance, skin tone and mental agility of someone many years younger. Most people think Im in my 60s.she boasts. Mc Williams admits genes play some role in the way she looks, but believes diet is an important factor. It doesnt matter how good the genes are if you dont eat properly and take care of yourself, she says. If you want to look good, get plenty of rest, exercise every day, eat mostly raw fruits and vegetablesand quit worrying. Says Blumberg, Theres certainly a link between good nutrition, a positive30 | 
