Is Your Workplace Responsible for Your Weight Gain?
By Shri
Workplace hazards continue to take a toll on employees regarding obesity and weight gain. Everyone in the workplace struggles with this problem. Employees spend nearly a quarter of their lives at the workplace, and the stress and demands of work may affect their eating habits, which may lead to weight gain and obesity. Obesity may affect performance as well as modify the relationship between workplace and health outcome.
A recent survey shows that your workplace can enhance your weight. According to a national survey from India, 51 percent of Indian employees have agreed that they gained weight at their workplaces. Nearly 30 percent saying they have gained more than 2 kg. Only 11 percent of Indian employee admitted that they had lost weight at their current workplace. This national survey was conducted online which involved more than 1000 employees across the India.
What are the reasons behind weight gain at the workplace?
Research says that workers who spend long hours sitting at a desk all day or have high-stress levels are more prone to gain weight. Sedentary work style, exhaustion, office food, stress eating and time constraints can put the employee at higher risk of gaining weight. During the survey, workers gave the following reasons for their weight gain. Nearly 60% workers believed that sedentary work style is the culprit behind their weight gain. Some 35% said that they don’t get time to exercise. Around 25% respondents agreed that they always skip their meals due to work related stress. While 38% workers gained weight due to eating out regularly, 20% workers blame unhealthier meals for their weight gain.
Apart from these, the most common causes of workplace weight gain are poor posture, lack of wellness program, office parties, overnight shift, heavy workloads and poor nutrition leads to weight gain.
Tips to evade off unhealthy weight gain at workplace
Exercise and eating habits are a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. It may help workers to shed excess weight.
Wrong body posture and sitting in the same posture for long duration may cause muscle tightness and fatigue which in turn adversely affect the work efficiency. Poor body posture may cause problems related to neck, shoulders, waist, back, wrists and fingers. To avoid these problems, stop using elevators and start taking the stairs at work. This may help you to burn calories. Take a short break in between the work. Do deep breathing. Get up from the chair and jog in place. Take a stroll around workplace during the lunch break. Exercise improves the mobility of joints, relieves stress, relaxes the mind and enhances blood circulation. People who spend long hours sitting at the workplace are advised to opt for mobility and stretching exercises.
When it comes to eating habits, it is difficult for employees to resist snacks, junk food and restaurant meals. Diet can affect work performance. Hence, avoid temptation and emotional eating. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Drink sufficient water to avoid dehydration. Keep an eye on your weight. This will surely force you to opt for healthy eating habits.
