STUDY: YOUR BODY STARTS GOING DOWNHILL AT 35

STOCKHOLM  — Your body, it turns out, has a peak season — and according to Swedish researchers, it ends sooner than most people would like.

A long-running study from the Karolinska Institute followed 427 people for nearly half a century and found that physical fitness tops out around age 35. After that, the decline begins — slowly, steadily, and with no mercy.

For women, muscle loss can start even earlier, around age 32, a few years ahead of men. Researchers tracked participants for 47 years, repeatedly testing strength and endurance through activities like bench presses and cycling. Yes, they’ve basically been watching humanity age in gym clothes since the late 1970s.

The findings come with a reality check: no amount of heroic gym time in your 20s can stop the eventual slide. Gravity wins. Time is undefeated.

But there is a silver lining. Staying active early — and consistently — can slow the decline, turning what could be a sudden tumble into a more dignified downhill glide.

In other words, you may not stay at the top forever — but you can choose whether you go down gracefully… or bounce like a rag doll on the way.