View
comments
Women struggle more than men with day-to-day tasks in old age due to the physical toll of all the housework they did when younger, new research suggests.
Scientists studied how elderly adults coped with activities such as climbing stairs, lifting shopping or cooking meals.
Among over-70s, women were more likely to have problems performing basic physical and mental tasks. The study, based on data from more than 60,000 people, suggested this is because of the ‘socio-economic disadvantage’ women suffered in the 20th century.
Researchers noted many women in the study – who were all born before 1960 – did not enter the workforce or higher education.
![Women struggle more than men with day-to-day tasks in old age due to the physical toll of all the housework they did when younger, new research suggests [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/01/18/19/38164928-9160745-Research_shows_that_reducing_the_time_we_spend_sitting_by_incorp-m-3_1610999220079.jpg)
Women struggle more than men with day-to-day tasks in old age due to the physical toll of all the housework they did when younger, new research suggests [File photo]
Instead, they were required to do ‘domestic and unpaid labour’ such as household chores.
The University College London study said such manual labour ‘exposed them to health risks that can lead to disability’ and reduce the ability to live independently in old age. However, it found the gap between men and women in performing daily tasks has reduced in recent years.
Lead
