Women less likely to report illness

Women who have children, a husband or partner and go to work are less likely to report ill health than women who stay at home, according to a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. The research says women who have been homemakers for all or most of their lives are the most likely to say they have poor health, followed by single mothers and childless women. It also discovered that superwomen with hectic lifestyles are less likely to be obese in their 50s than long-term homemakers, unmarried or childless women.Margaret Nabbach is typical of many female hairdressers; she looks after two children as well as running two salons, and the M&M Hair Academy, in London. She feels that getting out of the house has helped her health. “Having a routine every day makes sure that I get everything done. "Between the kids, going to the gym and going to work leaves me no time to think about my health. When I think about it I never get ill, so keeping busy must be good,” she says.