Over the past twenty years in the U.S., the average number of hours pe...
Let's evaluate each answer choice and determine its relevance:
(A) Do more employers offer healthy eating options in their onsite cafeterias today compared to twenty years ago?
This answer choice focuses on the availability of healthy eating options in onsite cafeterias. While it is a relevant factor for overall health, it does not directly address the impact of the increased workweek on BMI. It may contribute to a healthier lifestyle, but it does not specifically address the reduced time for exercise and engagement in healthy activities due to increased work hours.
(B) Do more employers subsidize gym and health club memberships for their employees today compared to twenty years ago?
This answer choice explores whether more employers subsidize gym and health club memberships. Again, while it is a relevant factor for overall health, it does not directly address the impact of the increased workweek on BMI. It may encourage exercise and physical activity, but it does not directly address the reduction in free time available for such activities due to longer work hours.
(C) What percentage of employees use their free time to exercise and engage in healthy activities today compared to twenty years ago?
This answer choice directly addresses the use of free time for exercise and engagement in healthy activities. By comparing the percentage of employees who engage in these activities today versus twenty years ago, we can gain insights into the potential impact of increased work hours on people's ability to exercise. However, it does not directly establish a causal relationship between the increased workweek and the increase in average BMI.
(D) Did employees exercise and engage in healthy activities with the additional time when they were not at work twenty years ago?
This answer choice specifically asks about the exercise and engagement in healthy activities during the additional free time that people had twenty years ago. By comparing this with the current situation, it addresses the potential impact of the increased workweek on people's ability to engage in healthy activities. It helps determine whether the reduction in free time due to longer work hours might have contributed to the increase in average BMI.
(E) What factors other than exercise and engaging in healthy activities are important for weight loss?
This answer choice explores factors other than exercise and healthy activities that are important for weight loss. While it is a relevant consideration, it does not directly address the relationship between the increased workweek and the increase in average BMI over the past twenty years.
Considering all the answer choices, option (D) is the most useful in determining whether the increased workweek is an important cause of the increase in average BMI over the past twenty years. By examining how employees utilized their additional free time for exercise and healthy activities twenty years ago, we can better understand the potential impact of the increased workweek on BMI.