Our weight is affected by our work environment. In 2010 the Web site CareerBuilder surveyed approximately 4,800 people age 18 or older, who were employed full-time in non-governmental jobs. According to the survey, 39% of the men and 50% of the women had gained weight in their current job. Of the 44% of workers who'd gained weight, 28% gained more than 10 pounds and 12% more than 20 pounds. It seems 50% of the workers ate lunch out at least 5 days a week, 25% snacked at least twice a day and 49% sat most of the time. This gives new meaning to "workload".
Our weight is also affected by our sexual orientation. According to a report published in the American Journal of Public Health, gay men are thinner than their heterosexual counterparts and gay women are fatter than theirs. In a health survey of more than 67,000 Massachusetts residents ages 18-64, researchers found 14% of gay men were obese compared to 21% of straight men. However, 26% of gay women were obese compared to 17% of straight women. It seems society puts less pressure on heterosexual men and gay women to be thin. At least this report "gives weight" to that conclusion.
Children's weight is affected by a variety of external influences. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology confirmed that children are getting fatter each generation and that children of fat parents are likelier to be fat. Researchers at University College London studied more than 8,000 adults who, in 1991, were raising a total of 1,889 children ages 4-9. According to their findings, children whose mothers worked full-time were 48% likelier to be overweight than children who had stay-at-home mothers - which is 100% likelier to make mothers who work full-time feel guilty.
Nevertheless, there's new hope. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found schools can help overweight students lose weight. Researchers followed 4,600 students from 42 middle schools across the U.S. Half the schools required longer, more intense gym time; more nutritious food choices; and focused on exercise and nutrition in class. Overweight or obese students in those schools were 21% less likely to be obese at the end of the 3-year study. Considering the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found almost 35% of children ages 6-19 are overweight or obese, we all need to be "schooled" in weight control.
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