One thing that has been consistently brought up in this thread is that people that consistently exercise don't "look" younger than their age.
I think it's a good idea to examine our preconceptions of what a certain age "looks" like. If your basis for what "50" looks like consists of celebrities who are in their fifties, then your perception is going to be quite skewed, especially if you are thinking of the best-looking celebrities for that age group (or for any age group over 30).
Generally speaking the best-looking people in ANY age group above 30 or so are that way because they follow healthy diet and exercise habits. Genetics will only help you up to a certain age, and after about 25-35, most people who are naturally attractive will start looking worse than their "age" if they don't take care of themselves. Madonna is a perfect example of this. Does Madonna look like she's in her fifties?
If your reference pool is "Celebrities who exercise regularly, eat well, and have tastefully done plastic surgery", then the answer is "Yes". If your reference pool is the general population, then the answer is "No".
As always, there are genetic freaks who can smoke a pack a day, eat like crap, never lift a finger, and still look good for most of their lives, but these are extreme outliers.
Another thing to consider past a certain age (which seems to be around 40) is whether someone feels and acts like their age. Jack Lalanne was a good example of this, as he appeared to have more energy than many people 30-40 years younger. Even if you look your age, or worse, having a sufficient energy level to get things done is incredibly imporant. People die when they stop having a reason to live; a greater energy level gives access to more options and more reasons to stay alive.
Edited by anomalous3, 06 December 2011 - 08:29 PM.