Your job could be making you gain weight, claims study

Sitting at your desk all day could be the root of the problem

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Your job could be the reason why you’ve been gaining weight, a study claims.

Sharing is definitely caring, but it seems that all those mince pies your coworkers have been bringing into the office could be taking their toll.

According to a study carried out by CV-Library, almost a third of workers in the UK would say that various aspects of their job have caused them to put on some weight.

However, carrying a little bit of extra weight isn’t just having a physical effect on professionals across the country.

Of the 1,200 workers who admitted their jobs are causing them to pile on the pounds, 75.7 per cent revealed that this has left them feeling unhappy as a result.

Lee Biggins, the founder and managing director of CV-Library, explained the difficulty in balancing a healthy lifestyle with a demanding career.

“Living a healthy lifestyle can sometimes feel like a job in itself, so it’s unsurprising to see that work has an impact on the eating and exercise habits of many of the nation’s professionals.

“That said, it’s worrying to learn that such a high percentage are unhappy as a result.

“Weight gain at work is understandable, particularly if you sit at a desk all day and struggle to fit in going to the gym or taking part in exercise or after work.”

The five main reasons for putting on weight at work probably won’t surprise you.

Sitting at your desk all day was the main culprit, with 50.1 per cent attributing this to their weight increase.

The other reasons in the top five included not having any time to exercise, snacking at work, eating more due to work stress and colleagues bringing in unhealthy snacks to share with the office.

Biggins has put forward suggestions for ways that employers can persuade their workers to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into their daily routines.

“Walk or cycle to work schemes are always a great way to help staff fit in exercise around their working day,” he said.

“What’s more, inexpensive perks like healthy snacks and team lunches, or discounted gym membership are positive ways to encourage your staff to look after themselves."