Re: Someone was mentioning about work hours the other day and obesity

Someone was mentioning about work hours the other day and obesity

Sticking this in P&R because it will be spun no matter what.

So we work hard in the US, long hours, longer than most of Europe and other developed countries. The assumption the other day was working less hours makes us fat. I'd argue the opposite, but that's another story. What struck me, other than countries with shorter work weeks being thinner than Americans was something else.

Evidently, the countries with shorter work weeks, while being thinner, are also happier.

World's happiest countries......
https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/world-happiness-report-americans-top-20-0f59cf98

Countries with the shortest work weeks....
https://www.timeout.com/news/revealed-these-are-the-countries-with-the-shortest-working-weeks-041922

Personally, I work 50+ hours a week, and that's down some in recent years. I still can't fathom working only 40 hours, but I imagine I'd be happier, but have less money. Then again, what makes us happy? It isn't money.

Working out and diet are choices

tabbyplague®

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There may be some small connections to hours worked for some people and their

Mar 20, 2024, 11:47 AM [ in reply to You don't see the connection of working too many hours inhibits ]

obesity but I'm not convinced it significantly skews the overall obesity problem in the USA. We certainly can't attribute our obesity problem as justification for reducing our standard work week as any honest look at the US obesity problem will find many other factors having a much greater affect.

For instance, unemployed folks aren't hindered by the number of work hours in a week yet obesity seems to be a big problem among that community. In fact - the longer they don't work the worse it gets:

https://news.gallup.com/poll/171683/obesity-linked-long-term-unemployment.aspx

Look at the epidemic of youth obesity we have in the USA... US Kids under the working age are experiencing higher levels of obesity than ever. Work hours certainly aren't the cause of their weight problems.

The CDC rates 44% of the US as obese (not just overweight) with contributing factors including race, income level, education level, and regions of the country. Number of hours worked isn't even mentioned...

IMO the modern American diet has become a bigger part of the problem than anything else. Everywhere you look it is high carb meals being offered from high end restaurants to fast food joints. These high carb diets ultimately drive up the body's blood sugar and even creates a craving for carbs that most people give into without understanding why they have the cravings or even thinking about.

I am definitely an exercise advocate. But...Exercise is ultimately a wellness tool - something we should all do but it is ultimately not a weight control tool. It can be useful in losing weight for those that are overweight/obese when combined with a proper diet BUT no one will ever, over a sustained long period, be able to out-exercise an uncontrolled diet. As one of my physical fitness mentors put it - "You will never out-exercise your diet"....

My own weight loss journey has led me to understand that genetics, the dietary choices we make, education/understanding how the body gains/loses weight, knowing/understanding one's personal food triggers, and the self-discipline to control one's diet have much more of an affect on our obesity problem than I suspect does the 40 hour work week.

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Someone was mentioning about work hours the other day and obesity