Work is good for your health?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Work is good for your health?
1599
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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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:44pm
as usual you didnt read that thread either. all that was being questioned was why she would put more credence on an outsiders opinion than on her own daughters
Jennie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:46pm
Agree about the last point, and I guess you may be right about the first point.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:47pm

"But perhaps they should ask the closer US citizen on Guantanamo Bay?"

And who might those citizens be? The military that protects everyone? Regardless if they are appreciated by certain members of our society or not.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:49pm
Certainly not. But, if my employer nor DH's employer covered us, I'm sure at least one of us would get another job so that we could pay OOP for a private policy.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:51pm

I love the way you have to portray me as some paranoid freak.

To each their own.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:53pm
Yes, don't you feel the earth rocking where you are?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:54pm
Are you trying to put words in my mouth? I never uttered a word about China and Saudi Arabia.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:55pm
I've already explained it. Continuing to be dense doesn't flatter you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:57pm

No, I guess you are the board's expert on that.

The taxes would go towards it, but where should we take the money away from to put it towards that?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2004
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:58pm

2nd hand smoke, from all the cigars.

For a while I was pretty sure Saddam was the guy operating the car exit gate at my OBs. I almost suggested he shave the mustache. Wasn't that a Seinfeld episode?

Mondo

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