On: For life expectancy, money matters

[jazzyk]

While office work is less demanding in certain aspects, it can be quite destructive in other ways, if you are not careful:

- circulatory issues (hypertension, due to lack of exercise),

- obesity,

- back issues,

- repetitive stress injuries, etc.

All of these could keep you from working.

Exercise and proper diet are key, regardless of your social status. The problem is that lower-status people usually don;t have the knowledge or don't care.

[pc86 → jazzyk]

It is entirely reasonable to assume that the average office worker could continue working into their late 60s and 70s. Obviously there will be exceptions and many will not, but the majority certainly can. You're not going to have 80% attrition among management because of RSI and obesity.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone fit and healthy enough to be a garbage collector from age 18 to age 70, even if they're the one driving the truck.

[akavi → jazzyk]

> The problem is that lower-status people usually don;t have the knowledge or don't care.

Or, just maybe, don't have the money or the free time.

[jazzyk → akavi]

Let's not introduce victim mentality here.

- gym memberships start from $10/month (optional, there are plenty of body-weight exercises you can do outside of gym).

- running costs nothing (in recurring fees).

- all you need is 1 hr/day, 3-4 times a week.

It is all really about knowledge and motivation.

I am not saying it is easy, but it has nothing to do with money.

[massysett → jazzyk]

1 hr/day, 3-4 times a week can be an enormous amount of time, especially when you are juggling children, work, and commuting. Higher income people can manage this more easily--often their work hours are more flexible, and the very high income can staff out their child care.

And lower income people are more likely to have jobs that require physical activity to begin with. Exercising is a lot harder if you've already been on your feet all day.

So it is not all about knowledge and motivation and while it may have little to do with money, it has a lot to do with available time.

[jazzyk → massysett]

It really varies. Most people I know in blue collar jobs work 40 hours/week and are free to do what they want after 5pm. They don't take their work home. It is usually the "exempt" professionals - lawyers, doctors, McKinsey consultants who work overtime (because they have to or they think they have to).