b'CHAPTER 1|WORKING LONGERsupports the idea that available time makes again weight. Those retiringon physical and mental health difference. Increasing work hours by 10 hoursfrom physically demandingseem to be related to lifestyle per week is associated with spending about 30jobs are less active inchanges, such as declines minutes less per week on cooking at home (Dunnretirement, whereasin physical activity and 2015).people retiring from asocial interaction (Dave Both gender and the kind of job we holdsedentary job actuallyet al. 2008). Transition seem to matter for weight changes in retirementincrease their level ofto partial employment (Foreman-Hoffman et al. 2008). There is nophysical activity (Chungor to a bridge job appears effect of retirement on weight gain for men, butet al. 2009b). Kampfento be associated with women who retire are at risk for weight gain.and Maurer (2016) find afewer physical declines and Women of normal weight when they retire andpositive effect of retirementbetter mental health (Zhan who worked in blue collar jobs are most likely toon physical activity, especiallyet al. 2009). Another HRS study gain weight over time. Workers who retire fromfor those with higher levels ofsuggests that having a mentally strenuous or physically demanding jobs seemeducation and wealth.stimulating job is associated with slower to be at higher risk of weight gain following re- Another health behavior that can changecognitive decline later on in retirement (Fisher et tirement. Taking into account the fact that somewith retirement is smoking. The effect could goal. 2014). weight gain is a normal part of aging, men whoeither way, though. Given widespread laws that retire from physically demanding jobs gain anban smoking in public places, retirement couldSome of the potentially negative additional 0.5 to 0.6 units of BMI. But men whoreduce this barrier to smoking. On the other retire from sedentary jobs gain only 0.1 unit ofhand, if retirement leads to less stress, those whoeffects of retirement on physical BMI (Goldman et al. 2008).were smoking as a way to cope with work-relat- and mental health seem to be ed stress might find it easier to quit smoking.related to lifestyle changes, such as Workers who retire from strenuousAyyagari (2016b) studies those who had a history of smoking and finds that retirement increasesdeclines in physical activityor physically demanding jobs seemthe probability of taking up smoking again amongand social interaction.to be at higher risk of weight gainthose who had quit. following retirement. Retirement and Health: Pinpointing the effect of retirement on cog-Use It or Lose It? nitive functioning and health is tricky, however. Chung et al. (2009a) find that retirementDoes retirement lead to a decline in cognitiveWork can keep us sharp and active, but it may leads to a modest weight gain of 0.24 BMI unitsabilities and physical health? Intellectual stim- also be the case that workers who are beginning overall. Similar to Goldman et al., these research- ulation may help prevent cognitive decline. Andto experience cognitive or health problems are ers find that people retiring from physically de- physical activity on the job can help keep usmore likely to leave work. To untangle cause manding jobs are more likely to gain weight afteractive. Work may serve to keep us cognitivelyand effect, researchers look for a factor that is retiring. But they also find that those with loweralert, physically active, and socially connected.related to retirement but not to either health wealth tend to gain weight in retirement. PeopleFor example, HRS research finds that some ofor cognition. Rohwedder and Willis (2010) use who were already overweight are more likely tothe potentially negative effects of retirementvariation in public pension systems as that factor 33'