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Stress Takes Its Toll on Obama's Face

Gray hair, worry lines betray pressures of presidency

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 19, 2009 8:40 AM CST

(Newser) – Ten months into his presidency, Barack Obama is looking markedly less boyish. Flecks of gray hair and new worry lines have the president looking like the 48-year-old he is rather than the enthusiastic youth of the 2008 campaign. Obama denies it's the stress of the job—"My hair has gotten a lot grayer because I was at the age where my hair was going to start getting gray," he says—but experts point to a proven link between stress and aging.

Obama, who's had plenty to furrow his brow over since taking office, recently called unemployment, health care, and Afghanistan worries that "I carry around on my shoulders every day," the New York Daily News reports. Obama's occasional smoking isn't doing him any favors in the aging process, either; but on the positive side, the prez says his lithe weight has remained unchanged for the past 30 years.

Fast-forward to Nov. 18, 2009, and he's looking a little more haggard, say experts.
Fast-forward to Nov. 18, 2009, and he's looking a little more haggard, say experts.   (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)
A fresh-faced Barack Obama on the 4th of July, 2007, with daughter Sasha.
A fresh-faced Barack Obama on the 4th of July, 2007, with daughter Sasha.   (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)
Maybe shadows are his best light these days?
Maybe shadows are his best light these days?   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Fresh-faced and smiling, he was just a senator with a dream on July 19, 2006.
Fresh-faced and smiling, he was just a senator with a dream on July 19, 2006.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
In this Aug. 26, 2006 photo, then Sen. Barack Obama, with his grandmother, Sarah Hussein Obama in Nyongoma Kogelo village in western Kenya, was abroad more for pleasure than work.
In this Aug. 26, 2006 photo, then Sen. Barack Obama, with his grandmother, Sarah Hussein Obama in Nyongoma Kogelo village in western Kenya, was abroad more for pleasure than work.   (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim, File)
No furrowed brow in this Sept. 5, 2005 photo with former President Bill Clinton, as they visit with Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston.
No furrowed brow in this Sept. 5, 2005 photo with former President Bill Clinton, as they visit with Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston.   (AP Photo/Richard Carson, File)
He's looking his 48 years, reports the New York Daily News.
He's looking his 48 years, reports the New York Daily News.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
Snowleopard
Nov 21, 2009 12:38 PM CST
was that two normal, non-hate-filled comments by dontlikeyou? wow. congratulations man.
prowlerzee
Nov 20, 2009 6:46 AM CST
He's stressing out over his poll numbers which are in free fall. You know, even Bushie, who went to bed early, exercised, and like his Mama didn't bother his "beautiful mind" with details aged a lot during his occupancy.
prowlerzee
Nov 20, 2009 6:42 AM CST
Does it send a tingle up your leg, Chris Matth---I mean Zero's #1 Fanboy?

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