Is Your Workplace Making You Fat?

From a colleague bringing in a box of donuts to the tray of leftover cheese and crackers put out for the staff after a client meeting (not even mentioning all those birthdays that seem to be celebrated every other week), the office can be a landmine for those trying to watch their weight. Add to this too many hours of sitting, tempting vending machines, and stress-eating when work starts piling up, and you have a recipe for disaster.

A survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder discovered that 44 percent of workers admit they’ve gained weight at their current job. Twenty-six percent say they’ve gained more than 10 pounds, and 14 percent say they’ve gained more than 20 pounds.

Reversing the trend is difficult, but workers can take steps. Consider these possibilities:

• Get some movement into your day.

Bike to work. Take a walk during lunch or on your break. Pace rather than sit when on the phone. Always take the stairs rather than the elevator.

• Eat breakfast and lunch.

Arriving at work famished or working through lunch makes it very hard to resist temptations that are calling your name as you walk past. Packing healthy snacks can help, too.

• Don’t be an instigator.

Chances are that your colleagues may be trying to make healthier choices but feel obligated to join the Christmas cookie swap. If you commonly direct office social events, see if you can find ways to avoid making too many of them food-related.

• Say “thank you” in non-edible ways.

Instead of baking a batch of cookies as a way to show appreciation, try things such as flowers or a heart-felt note.

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