Stress, Obesity Impair Middle Aged Women
Women in their
40s and 50s who report a high level of stress, cannot buy the basic necessities
of life, or who have certain medical problems are more likely to have trouble
with certain daily activities such as bathing, carrying groceries, or climbing
stairs, according to a study conducted at the University of Arkansas for
Medical Services.
What's more,
obese middle-aged women were nearly twice as likely to have substantial
physical limitations as women of average weight.
Sandra K. Pope, PhD,
MPH, conducted a nationwide survey of more than 16,000 women aged 40 to
55, asking them about their ability to conduct such basic activities as
bathing, dressing, carrying groceries, bending, moderate and vigorous activities,
and climbing stairs.
Obese women
were twice as likely as normal-weight women to report limitations in these
areas, as were women who said they had trouble paying for basic items.
Medical conditions like heart disease or arthritis imposed even greater
limits on activity.
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