Homemakers have health risks

Working moms in steady relationships tend to be in better shape than those who stay at home, new research suggests.

Women who juggle careers and family tend to be healthier and more in shape than stay-athome moms, according to a new study recently released in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

A career as a homemaker seems to increase the chances of becoming obese, according to the research.

The researchers behind the study based their findings on data from women participants in the Medical Research Council National Study of Health and De

velopment, a British survey that tracked women's health at the age of 26 and in mid-life at the age of 54.

Analysis of the information showed that by the age of 54 women who had been partners, parents and employees were significantly less likely to report ill health than women who did not fulfill all three roles.

Women who had been homemakers for all or most of their lives and had not held down a job were most likely to report poor health, followed by single mothers and childless women.

Women who had worked during several periods of their lives were less likely to be obese than women who had rarely worked. Weight gain tended to occur at a faster rate among the homemakers.

Obesity was most common among the long-term homemakers (38 percent) and least common among women who had fulfilled all three roles (23 percent).

These findings were not explained by the women's earlier health nor did health status in early life influence whether the women became employees, wives or mothers.

As such, the researchers conclude that good health among women is more likely to be the result, rather than the cause, of adopting several roles.

Of course, nothing in the study contradicts what most already know to be true: regular exercise and a healthy diet can help virtually everyone.

This story provided by StatePoint Media.