The Number of Kids You Have May Affect Your Lifespan, Study Finds

Summary: A new study from the University of Helsinki looked at how having children affects a woman's lifespan and biological aging. Researchers studied over 14,000 women who were twins to help rule out genetic differences. They found that women who have no children, or those who have a large number of children (an average of 6.8), tend to age faster biologically and have shorter lifespans.

The healthiest group were women who had 2 to 3 kids between the ages of 24 and 38. Scientists think this fits the "disposable soma" theory, which says our bodies share energy between having kids and keeping ourselves healthy. If too much energy goes to having babies, less is left for repairing the body. However, researchers say this is just a general link and not personal health advice, as things like wealth, body weight, and alcohol use also play big roles.

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