Study re: working mums being healthier than housewives

[MagicGenie]

Couldn't believe this when I heard it on the news today.

Here is \link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4765411.stm\link to story on BBC news site}

I'm a SAHM. I'm not offended at the suggestion what I'm fatter/unhealthier than working mums.

What does offend me though is the fact that mums (working or not) rarely feature in positive news stories when it comes to health studies.

When I was pg (2 yrs ago-ish), the story was that due to an increase in infantile alcoholism, the health profession should recommend no alcohol during pregnancy.

Recently I read about a study which said few pregnant women were drinking enough milk and this was having negative effects on them and babies.

Now, SAHMs are unhealthier than working mums.

Not trying to suggest that we should be reading OTT stuff like '85% of mums adore their stretch marks!' and I know that pregnancy/parenting are v physically demanding etc.

Just can't figure out why motherhood, health and well-being is scrutinised and described so negatively....

...why don't you get stories about fathers being unhealthy, unfit, knackered, overweight etc etc?!

Or am I just missing them?!

I am not sure that this story adds up. I can believe that if you work in an active job (aerobics instructor? shelf stacker?) a salaried mum might do more exercise than a mum at home, but as somebody who does a bit of both, I do far more exercise when looking after DS than when I am sitting on my bottom at work.

What the article doesn't mention is how many of the SAHM weren't working because of lack of opportunity and were financially disadvantaged, which definitely has an impact on your health.

Agree its just another stupid article.

"But this constant juggling also means that women need, by necessity, to look after their health, are better able to prioritise their demands and are less sedentary than others."

eh? If you're ill, it's surely easier for a WOHM to take a day off work while her child goes to their usual childcare than for a SAHM to spend the day looking after her child as per usual.

I agree it's more likely to do with social class and/or lower self esteem of some SAHMs than exercise or diet. I know I am far fitter and eat better than when I was working.