Susie Masterson Loses 10kg on 4-Day Work Week as Study Links Longer Hours to Obesity
Updated
Updated · inews · May 12
Susie Masterson Loses 10kg on 4-Day Work Week as Study Links Longer Hours to Obesity
2 articles · Updated · inews · May 12
51-year-old Manchester psychotherapist Susie Masterson said a four-day week helped her lose 10kg, cut visceral fat and build muscle after fully adopting the schedule in January 2026.
Wednesdays off became a "Total Health Day" for meal prep, short exercise bursts and longer strength sessions, easing burnout symptoms, migraines and joint pain while improving flexibility and capacity for work.
Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul found each 1% cut in working hours was associated with a 0.16% drop in obesity rates.
The study said long hours can drive obesity through convenience eating, less time to exercise and higher cortisol levels, reinforcing Masterson's account of stress-heavy 60-hour weeks in tech and later burnout in private practice.
Is the four-day work week a health panacea or a Trojan horse for intensified stress and workplace inequality?
As AI makes work more demanding, is the dream of a shorter, healthier work week already an illusion?