The Study
EFFECT OF LONG-TERM CALORIC RESTRICTION ON THE PACE OF BIOLOGICAL AGING IN HEALTHY ADULTS FROM THE CALERIE TRIAL
This study looked at whether eating fewer calories changes signs of aging in healthy adults. It found a small link between eating less and one measure of slower aging, but we can't be sure it was the diet that caused the change because we don’t know all the details about how the study was done.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at whether eating 25% fewer calories for 2 years could slow aging in healthy people who aren’t overweight.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 565 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Even small changes in aging speed might add up to longer, healthier life over time.
- 2Eating less slowed aging by 3% on one aging clock (DunedinPACE).
- 3No change was seen on two other clocks (PhenoAge, GrimAge).
- 4A 3% slower aging rate is linked to 15% lower risk of dying earlier.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Innovation in Aging
Year
2023
Authors
D. Belsky
Related Content
Claims (10)
If healthy-weight adults eat 25% less food for two years, it might slow down how fast their body ages—based on a special aging test—though not all aging tests showed a change.
If you're already eating a really healthy and balanced diet, cutting back on calories probably won't help you live much longer.
Older adults who experience a 3% slowdown in DunedinPACE, a biomarker of aging, through caloric restriction have a 15% lower risk of death compared to those who do not.
Caloric restriction changes a biological measure of aging called DunedinPACE, but there is no confirmed evidence that this change reduces chronic disease or increases healthy lifespan.
If your body ages just a little slower — like 3% slower — you might be 15% less likely to die sooner, especially as you get older. Even tiny changes in how fast you age could really matter for your health over time.
In humans, eating fewer calories slows the biological aging process as measured by the DunedinPACE biomarker.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.