Long hours unhealthier for women

Many people eat at their desk

Women who work long hours are more likely than men to indulge in unhealthy behaviour such as snacking, smoking and drinking caffeine, a study has found.

A Leeds University team found men and women respond very differently to working long hours - with the greatest impact being on women.

Both sexes were likely to increase their intake of unhealthy foods.

The researchers say that this is probably a reaction to the stress of a demanding job.

Stress disrupts people's normal eating habits Dr Daryl O'Connor

They found women who work long hours eat more high fat and high sugar snacks, exercise less, and drink more caffeine than male colleagues working similar hours.

If they are smokers, they also smoke more.

However, long hours appeared to have no negative impact on men's level of exercise, caffeine intake or smoking.

For both sexes, long hours were associated with a reduction in alcohol consumption.

Comfort eating

These findings are part of a wider study conducted into the effects of stress on eating.

Lead researcher Dr Daryl O'Connor said "Stress disrupts people's normal eating habits.

"It causes people to opt for unhealthy high fat and high sugar snacks in preference to healthier food choices.

"Also, people under stress eat less than usual in their main meals, including their vegetable intake, but shift their preference to high fat/high sugar snacks instead."

The study examined the stress caused by minor events, or hassles, both in and outside work such as having an argument with a colleague or friend, a meeting with your boss, giving a presentation at work, or missing a deadline.

People who experienced one or more such hassles during the day reported consuming significantly more between-meal snacks than usual but fewer portions of vegetables, and a smaller main meal.

Multi-tasking

Dr O'Connor said people were most likely to snack under stress could be described as "emotional eaters".

"These individuals have higher levels of vulnerability and tend to turn to food as an escape from self-awareness.

"In other words, when they feel anxious or emotionally aroused or negative about themselves, they try to avoid these 'negative' feelings by turning their attention to food."

Professor Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University, said men were less likely to be affected by working long hours because they were not expected to multi-task in the same way as women.

"Men like working long hours because it makes them feel important. Also I suspect a lot of men work slightly longer hours so they don't have to do the domestic chores when they get home.

"On the other hand working longer hours really stresses women because they know they are expected to perform not only in the working environment, but also in the home environment too."

The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.