Final answer:
The term describing a 72-year-old who is as physically healthy as someone 10 years younger is a physiological age of 62. This is because physiological age indicates the condition and functionality of one's body, as opposed to chronological age, which is the actual time someone has been alive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term describing a 72-year-old individual with physical health similar to people aged 62 is physiological age of 62. The physiological age is a measure of how well or poorly a person's body is functioning relative to actual chronological age. In this case, despite the individual's chronological age of 72, their body functions as well as someone in their 60s, thus their physiological age is 62.
Chronological age is determined by the actual time a person has been alive, while physiological age is determined by health, and physical well-being. This is often impacted by lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and mental health. For instance, regular engagement in physical activity can keep the body's metabolic rate higher, which could result in a lower physiological age.
Different individuals age differently depending on a range of factors, including genetics and lifestyle choices, leading to differences in the aging process. Therefore, one's chronological age is not necessarily indicative of their health or physical abilities. In fact, some scholarly disciplines argue that there are different forms of aging, not only the physiological process but also including our attitudes, beliefs about aging, and feelings of health and well-being.
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