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Working Mums Stay Slimmer and Healthier

By WLR Dietitian, Juliette Kellow BSc RD

If balancing a hectic schedule at work with children and family life often leaves you feeling stressed out, you’ll be pleased to hear it might actually benefit your waistline and health.

Scientists from University College London have discovered that working mums in steady relationships are far less likely to be obese than those who stay at home.

The researchers used information from a study that tracks the long-term health of British adults born in 1946 throughout their life. They found that by the age of 54, health problems were less common amongst women who had been employees, parents and partners than those who had been homemakers, childless and single parents.

Furthermore, 38 percent of long-term homemakers were obese, compared to just 23 percent of women who fulfilled all three roles. The research, which was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, concludes that adopting several different roles in life is good for health.

WLR says:

This is an interesting piece of research but it’s hard to know why women who are mums, partners and employees all enjoy better health and are less likely to be overweight or obese.

Further research should be carried out to help explain these findings. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see health experts recommending employment, marriage or childbirth as ways to improve our health. After all, these types of lifestyle may not suit everyone.

Furthermore, we know there are many things that truly can help to prevent illness and excess weight gain – regardless of whether or not we’re working, married or mums. These include not smoking, taking plenty of exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet, not drinking too much alcohol, going for regular health check-ups and seeing our GP when we first notice something that’s not quite right.

And ultimately, for most of us, these are all much easier to achieve than finding a job, finding a partner and having a baby!

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