The social roles of women tend to affect their health, specifically their weight, according to a recent study conducted at University College in London.
Women who choose to be stay-at-home moms, or housewives, are more likely to be obese than women who joined the work force. The study followed women who were born in 1946, tracking them into their 50s.
The mother of Arika Brewer, a junior psychology major, was a housewife and struggled with her weight.
Brewer said the main reason for her mother’s weight problems were the number of children she had.
“Every time she got any weight off, she would get pregnant and have to start all over again,” Brewer said.
Her mother was constantly baking breads and casseroles for the family, often snacking on cookies or chocolates, and drinking Pepsi.
When it came to being active, Brewer said her mother’s exercise usually happened in spurts. “One year she tried to walk every day, but it just did not last long.”
Timothy Behrens, a professor in the department of health promotion and education, said that women are usually less active than men, and that the instruments used to measure women’s activity are less accurate.
“We do know that physical activity levels among higher-educated individuals tend to be higher, thus obesity should be lower,” Behrens said.
Elizabeth Holmes, a junior in gender studies, has a mother who worked outside the home and never struggled with obesity, and did well at balancing work and family.
“She always made sure our family had well balanced meals and would even pack my dad a healthy lunch to take to his work,” Holmes said. “I think that because she worked, she was always on a tight schedule, which kept her eating right and staying active.”
Behrens said there have also been some studies lately that have measured “transportation activity,” and have found that active commuters are less likely to be obese.