Working mothers with stable relationships are the healthiest, while women who are homemakers are the most likely to become obese.
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Image: BBC |
British experts have monitored 1,200 women aged between 15 and 54 over several years. About 23% of those juggling multiple roles are obese, compared to 38% of women who primarily stay at home. Researchers suggest that the short-term pressures of managing multiple jobs are outweighed by long-term health benefits.
They utilized data from women participating in the National Health and Development Study, which tracks the long-term health of men and women born in 1946 in Britain. Each individual’s health was assessed through a questionnaire covering work, marital status, and children. Weight and height were also recorded periodically.
The data analysis revealed that at the age of 54, women who are wives, mothers, and employed experience significantly fewer health issues than those who do not fulfill all three roles.
Those who spend most of their lives as homemakers without additional employment tend to have the poorest health, followed by single mothers and women without children.
38% of long-term homemakers are obese compared to 23% of working mothers in stable relationships. Additionally, weight gain occurs more rapidly among stay-at-home women. This is attributed to homemakers exercising less and consuming more food.
Researchers conclude that good health is a result, not a cause, of women managing multiple roles in their lives.
M.T.
