'Women hunched over desks for long gain weight'

Sydney, July 11 (IANS) Middle-aged working women who spend long hours hunched over their desks are more likely to gain greater weight, say Australian researchers.

The study analysed the impact of job status and the number of hours worked on the weight of middle-aged women and found

those who worked in excess of 35 hours (in a week) were more likely to experience weight gain.

Researchers led by Nicole Au, from the Centre for Health Economics at Monash University, analysed 9,276 women aged between 45 and 50 years, using the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health for 1996 and 1998, the International Journal of Obesity reports.

The study found 55 percent of the women gained weight over the two-year period. On average the women gained 1.5 percent

of their initial weight while extreme amounts of weight gain were also evident.

Au attributed longer working hours to increased weight gain with women spending less time maintaining their health and

fitness levels, according to a Monash statement.

"Extended work hours may reduce the time spent preparing home-cooked meals, exercising and sleeping which are risk

factors for obesity. Policies that assist women who work long hours to reduce the time costs of sustaining a healthy diet and their physical activity routine may have positive benefits," added Au.