Work is good for your health?
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| Mon, 05-15-2006 - 5:25am |
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=43421
Working Mothers Healthier Than Full-time Housewives
Main Category: Women's Health / OBGYN News
Article Date: 15 May 2006 - 1:00am (PDT)
According to new research carried out in Britain, working mothers enjoy better health than full-time housewives. Despite the stress working mothers face by holding down a job, dealing with childcare, housework and striving to keep the family happy.
It appears that working mothers, when compared to full-time housewives, are less likely to become overweight, have a better level of health and a healthier relationship. The study also found that single mothers experience worse health than working mothers who have a partner and children.
You can read about this study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Team leader, Dr. Anne McMunn, University College London, said that women who combine work with children and marriage do seem to have better health than full-time housewives. Even though they may experience high levels of stress sometimes.
It is not a question of chicken-and-egg either. Dr. McMunn said it is the experience of work plus having a family that brings on the better health, not the fact that only healthier mothers decide to carry on working.
The researchers examined data on women born in 1946 from the Medical Research Council's National Study of Health and Development. The data registers their health from 1946 until they are 54. Women's health was examined, with the help of a questionnaire at the ages of 26 through to 54. Every decade, the questionnaire collects data on each woman's work history, whether she is/was married, has children, her height and weight.
The healthiest women were the ones who had all three of the following:
-- A Partner
-- Children
-- A job
Those reporting the worst health were stay-at-home mothers, followed by childless women and single mothers.
38% of stay-at-home mothers were obese when they reached their 50s, for working mothers the percentage was 23%.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

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Oh please, are you guys really debating whether Canada or the USA is a "greater" country?
Everyone knows Australia is the greatest country in the world.
LOL.
Point is, its totally subjective. Speaking purely from an economic, and resources standpoint, the US 'wins.' If I was on welfare, Canada would be the hands down winner. If I liked the cold, Canada wins. If I like the heat and the ocean, I'm sorry but nothing competes with Southern CA in North America.
Much as I think Vancouver is beautiful, its still, well, a small town. Much as I love Toronto, particularly its theatre and shopping, it still pales next to NYC in that regard. Much as I love the skiing in Whistler...Jackson Hole and a few places in Colorado have it beat.
Totally subjective.
I just have to add that in the area that I live in, many people are doing very well without a college degree. My nieces dance instructor started her dance company while still in high school - was up to $40,000/year while still in high school. Hate to think of what she is at now.
A friend's dh started his own construction business right after he completed just one year of college - he is extremely wealthy now, only 5 years later.
The lady down the street from us started work for a publisher right after she graduated from high school. She is 20 years old now and is very wealthy on her own.
It is possible to make a good living for yourself if you have the drive even if you don't have the degree.
I completely agree with you, I was just trying to figure out why someone would actually think that their country was the "greatest in the world" rather than just "proud to be Canadian"
My whole point is that it really doesn't make a difference where you live in the westernized/1st world. Nothing is really better then another, they all have the same rights/freedomes etc.
I was just responding originally when she said that she had things that another poster would only see in her dreams being - American Citizenship. Which considering that there's nothing really 'special' or better in the states then a whole slew of other countries, what makes it so great...therefore better then say canada.
I am thinking that if a poster is collectively asked more than 10 times the same question and doesn't answer said question with a specific answer relating to said question, then we will asume by default that poster has no friggin idea what he/she is talking about.
Jennie
Jennie
Jennie
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