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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Very true....And I think people *wanted* to believe for so long that the almighty leader couldn't possibly be lying or taking them down the wrong path.
I still do think there are a lot of idiots out there, though ;)lol
The privilede of being born in the greatest country in the world.
And that's JMHO.
"And since I've just read that you're only 20 years old, you're not even considered an adult yet. So, get some more life experience besides the 4 walls of a college classroom with a liberal professor spewing things at you and then I'll debate with you."
I'm going to assume this is directed at me - sorry if i assumed wrong.
I'm considered an adult in Canada; I have every right an adult has...well, you can't rent a car until you're 25 I believe, so I guess I don't have that one. But I can vote, buy alcohol, smokes, go to the bars, drive; I'm not sure what else there is?
I'm not even trying to debate with you, I'm not claiming to know anything on the subject, but I can tell when points are being argued with no basis - I think university definitley teaches one how to argue (or else why are we writing so many papers?) - technically I'm not writing them anymore, since i'm in Science, but i had to at one time.
I'm not saying you're wrong. Just that you don't go about backing your opinions up very well.
You'd be surprised how many Canadians are patriotic and don't think that the US is greater than their own country.
edited to add: notice how I said "you'd" be surprised. Other people aren't surprised at all when people express love for their own country.
Edited 6/6/2006 2:17 pm ET by susannahk2000
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