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
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:04pm
YES.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:05pm

Could they kill you in an instant with those objects?

Calling on the board's medical examiner to answer this one. Or maybe one of our scientists.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:05pm
I don't know, but it would certainly speed things up.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:07pm

I saw that one coming. When you can't debate anything else, pick on the grammar. Earlier in the thread, I had trouble editing. You can call me a moron on that one.

BTW, why is it that you never answer any law questions when they come up??

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:07pm

Yes, I read them, my comments below.


1.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:08pm

Oh, I have a few more. But, don't want to bore anyone.

And does the fact that it happened 30 years ago make a difference to the dead woman's family?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:09pm
On an exotic trip with my wonderful, adoring DH. Jealous?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:13pm
No, I did not say you were morons. I don't really think "the terrorists" care whether you think you are a moron.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:15pm

You don't have to tell us.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:15pm
Because it's not logical, rational or fair to judge a whole family based on the actions of one or several members.

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