By Wailin Wong | This
may not feel like a time of plenty. But many American workers’ waist
lines are expanding through the weak economy, according to a new survey
by Chicago-based CareerBuilder.
The poll revealed that 44 percent of workers have gained weight in
their current jobs, with 32 percent saying stress was a contributing
factor. In 2009, 43 percent of workers reported putting on pounds. The
weight gain was more than 10 pounds for 28 percent of employees and
more than 20 pounds for 12 percent of workers.
The survey, conducted online between Feb. 10 and March 2, polled about 4,800 Americans who are at least 18 years old and employed full-time at a non-government job.
“Especially in this economy, it is easier to pick up unhealthy eating habits in the office as workers spend more time on heavier workloads and less time on themselves,” Rosemary Haefner, vice president of Human Resources for CareerBuilder, said in a press release.
Still, the other reasons for office weight gain cited by the survey participants were perennial culprits: workplace celebrations such as birthday parties and eating out regularly, for example. Half of the workers surveyed said they eat lunch out at least five days a week, and one-quarter of employees said they snack at least twice a day. Only 9 percent of the respondents said they use their lunch hour to exercise.
And 49 percent of respondents said they gained weight simply by sitting at their desks for most of the day.
Women were more susceptible to weight gain in the office, with 50 percent of female workers saying they had gained weight, versus 39 percent of men.
CareerBuilder recommended that employees bring a healthy lunch from home, set an eating schedule for the day to avoid snacking and find a work-out buddy in the office. The site also had a suggestion for weight loss that will strike many as revolutionary: “Walk over to co-workers instead of calling or e-mailing them.”
Actually, the only reason people gain weight is because they consume more calories than they burn.
The rest is just a bunch of excuses.
Agreed. Get off your fat @ss and do something besides watch TV.
“Actually, the only reason people gain weight is because they consume more calories than they burn.
The rest is just a bunch of excuses.”
Ding Ding Ding
brad – thanks for the physiology lesson. Of course that is the reason, this article is just trying to highlight the psychological reasons _why_ someone chooses to take in more calories than they burn.
Nice flippant comment though, it really adds to the discussion.
My doctor told me that exercise is the least effective method for weight loss. Calorie counting is the most effective. Your body as it gets fit, will burn less calories during exercise and becomes more efficient. I can bike 25 miles in less than 90 minutes and will only burn about 900 calories. One trip to Micky D’s for a Quarter Pounder, Fries and drink will erase that. My work load is big and stressful. I hardly ever eat out. I bring a lunch every day from home. I make it a habit to eat all day starting with Yogurt, then a little while later a piece of fruit, then something for lunch, then a granola bar for a late afternoon snack. I work out when I get home, whether bike riding, running and inside during inclimate weather. The people who complain about weight gain probably visit too many “All you can eat” buffet.
Waistlines are widening because many people are sedentary, incredibly lazy and eat far too much garbage. End of story.
Someone I know said that CareerBuilder was worthless in that it had no jobs. So, I guess instead of doing its designated job, it has time to do these surveys.
Typical of a Tribune electronic publishing site.
I agree w/IAN. The spam is in the Comments section of nearly every article I read. I report each one as spam, but the Trib should be banning the users. Why else do they require our email address when we post?
All of you are a bunch of gurlymans I will crush you
It’s weird that the storeis following this one are also about fat:
FDA OKs Abbott next-gen blood sugar test
Another Ronald McDonald retirement call
Oprah hires manager for her billions
4th Chick-fil-A planned for Schaumburg
My dad bought a 2006 Ford Mustang, for about $19,000. It has about 200 HP, and is really fun to drive and mod. It also has about 20 mpg. There’s also tons of aftermarket parts if you love that kind of stuff. Check it out.