More than half of workers think that they could do with losing a few pounds, according to a recent survey by online careers site CareerBuilder.
More than half (55%) of workers think that they could do with losing a few pounds, according to a recent survey by online careers site CareerBuilder.* In addition, a substantial 41% gained weight in their current jobs: a majority (59%) of these gained over 10 pounds, and 30% gained over 20. In comparison, only 16% of workers say they’ve lost weight in their current job.
There seems to be a strong correlation between those professions with high stress levels and long, desk-bound hours. The eight professions that are most likely to put the pounds on you include:
- Administrative Assistant (69%)
- Engineer (56%)
- Teacher/Instructor
- Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant (51%)
- IT Manager/Network Administrator (51%)
- Attorney/Judge/Legal Professional (48%)
- Machine Operator/Assembly/Production Worker (45%)
- Scientist, Biological/Physical/Social (39%)
“Weight gain at work often comes from a combination of poor eating habits when you’re on the go and not being able to fit a workout into a busy schedule. Two in five workers don’t exercise on a regular basis and one in ten doesn’t exercise at all,” Rosemary Haefner, VP of HR at CareerBuilder, said.
“Whether it’s daily walks with a co-worker or taking advantage of company wellness benefits, it’s important to find a way to stay active,” she added.
Most common causes of weight gain:
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- Sitting at desk most of the day (56%)
- Eating because of stress (35%)
- Eating out regularly (26%)
- The temptation of the office candy jar (17%)
- Having to skip meals because of time constraints (17%)
- Workplace celebrations (17%)
- Pressure to eat food co-workers bring in (9%)
- Happy hours (4%)
*The survey was conducted in February and March of this year online by Harris Interactive and garnered responses from around 3,690 full-time workers in the private sector.