A new study found out that people working as an administrative assistant (read: secretary or receptionist) or an engineer will most likely be overweight while scientists and factory workers are least likely to become obese.
About 55 percent of workers see themselves as overweight and 41 percent said that they gained extra pounds because of their present employment. While a lot of the respondents said they gained weight because of their work, 16 percent reported that they lost weight. These are some of the findings of a survey conducted by CareerBuilder released on Thursday.
The research found out that individuals engaged in high stress working environments or workers sitting behind a desk for long hours have a higher risk of gaining some extra poundage.
Topping the list of those who are most likely to gain weight, are administrative assistants (69 percent), engineers (56 percent) and teachers (51 percent).
Scientists and production workers or of similar jobs are least like to gain extra weight at 39 percent and 45 percent, respectively.
"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 don't exercise at all," explained Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder vice president of human resources, through a press statement.
"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," Haefner added.
The CareerBuilder surveyed about 3,600 full-time workers between February 11 and March 6 this year through the online polling facility of Harris Interactive.
Aside from stressful working environment and sedentary roles at the office, the respondents also cited unhealthy eating habits, availability of junk food at work, and eating out regularly as the reasons for their weight gain.
The lunch and snack habits also played a role in gaining some pounds. More than half of the respondents responded that they eat out for lunch at least once a week while about a quarter of the respondents said that they eat out at least thrice a week. Seventy percent of the workers confessed that they snack while at work. Roughly eight percent purchase food items from the office vending machine.
Looking at the exercise habits of workers, about 59 percent disclosed that they work out regularly and 45 percent go to the gym three times a week. Sixteen percent of the workers work out before going to work while 42 percent prefer to hit the gym after they clock out of the office.
Thirty percent of the respondents said that they do not exercise on a regular basis and about 11 percent do not have any exercise routine at all.
The study of the job search company also found out that only three of 10 workers have employers that offer wellness benefits and about 36 percent use their work-provided gym passes.
What's your line of work? Share your tips on the comments section below on how you stay fit. Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Let us know.
