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 - 3:18pm

"They want us to believe that we're morons and can't do anything to protect ourselves."

OK, the way things are going, the only thing missing here is your belief. So far, the self-defense has proved rather pathetic.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:19pm
Yes.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:20pm
One of my friends, who used to eliminate nuisances, was laughing when they gave him a plastic knife on the plane after 9/11. He explained quite vividly how you would go about killing someone with a plastic knife. Apparently "no problemo."
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:27pm

Are you aware of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI files collected on innocent Americans?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:29pm
Terrorists can, if properly trained, kill you with their bare hands.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:30pm
Is it a requirement that I answer law questions?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:31pm
So who's been taking care of your 3 children for the past 3 years, then?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:39pm

Did you read about Hurricane Francis in 2004 were FEMA disbursed $30 million in disaster relief to the residents of Miami, FL?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:39pm

That would make me turn the dial pretty darn quick.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 3:42pm

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Please elaborate, outside of your own comments of course, since you

PumpkinAngel

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