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: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:43pm
Well, according to another poster, you need to be an expert to give makeup advice.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:44pm
The Grand Canyon, Crater Lake, Yosemite, Yellowstone... ;) THAT is why the US is the best! LOL (I kinda like the Bill of Rights, too)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:45pm

You are criticizing the amount of years this policy has been in effect. So, why don't you help it along and spend some money there?

It seems to me that you women have all the answers but then when it comes time to put out or shut up, you can't actually say you'd take some action.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:46pm
Why didn't I already know that?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:47pm
A comedienne also!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:48pm
Would you vacation there? No? Then he's a threat.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:51pm

Do you think that you're hurting me with that statement?

I can count on my fingers the number of times that I've been to NYC.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:53pm
You are so definitely not a libertarian, that I can tell. I could give you links upon links of people getting their doors busted down, their records confiscated, their phone calls monitered, etc, who had done nothing wrong.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:53pm
I'm glad you girls memorize my posts. Makes me feel loved!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 6:54pm
I think that is the lamest logic I have ever seen in my life.

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