What weakens the wear-and-tear theory of aging?

The choice highlighting that inactive people show significant signs of aging weakens the wear-and-tear theory of aging because it suggests that lifestyle factors play a crucial role in the aging process, rather than solely focusing on the idea that aging results from accumulated damage and use over time.

The wear-and-tear theory posits that as individuals age, their bodies deteriorate due to the stresses and strains of daily life. If only the physical wear and tear were responsible for aging, we would expect that both active and inactive individuals would age similarly due to the inherent physiological decline associated with aging. However, when evidence shows that inactive people exhibit more significant signs of aging—such as reduced muscle mass, cardiovascular health, and mobility—it indicates that lack of activity accelerates aging processes, thus challenging the notion that wear-and-tear is the sole factor.

This insight emphasizes that maintaining an active lifestyle may mitigate some of the observable effects of aging, leading to a more nuanced understanding of the aging process where biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors interact. Thus, this understanding counters the simplistic view of aging as just a result of wear and tear.