Who hasn’t pointed out a new wrinkle or a gray strand to one of their girlfriends? Complaining and saying “I feel old” is totally normal—but far from harmless. This kind of old talk can be just as detrimental to your body confidence as calling yourself fat, according to a new study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders. A full 66 percent of women surveyed admitted to engaging in the toxic talk.

This is the first study to examine the effects of old talk on women, and the results are troubling: The habit was linked to serious health problems such as depression and eating disorders.

To embrace your looks—forehead creases and all—read up on how to boost your body confidence:

Love Your Body

6 Ways to Boost Your Body Confidence

Building Self-Esteem

Silence Your Inner Critic

“What I Love About My Body”

Bust Through Body-Confidence Barriers

TELL US: What’s the best way to stop bad-mouthing yourself? Sound off in the comments below.

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