
Mary Lorenz | July 19, 2018
Your bank account may not be the only thing that’s getting bigger with every paycheck – your waistline may be expanding, too. A new survey from CareerBuilder looks at the correlation between work and weight gain, and you may be surprised by the results.
According to the survey, nearly half of U.S. workers (45 percent) believe they’ve gained weight at their present jobs. Of these workers, 1 in 4 say they’ve gained at least 10 pounds in their current position, and 1 in 10 say they’ve gained 20 or more.
Weighing in on the causes
As for what’s causing Americans to pack on the pounds, the answers are as varied as gourmet doughnut flavors. If you’ve read any of the recent reports on the negative health effects of sitting all day, it should come as no surprise that the majority of workers (53 percent) blame at least part of their on-the-job weight gain to the sedentary aspects of their job. Nearly the same amount (49 percent) say they don’t have the energy to work out, while a third (34 percent) say they can’t find the time.
It’s not as if workers aren’t trying to keep their weight in check, however. The majority of workers (58 percent) say they exercise “on a regular basis.” Of this group, 29 percent work out three or fewer days a week, and the same amount work out four or more days a week. Of the 42 percent of workers who don’t work out regularly (or at all), nearly half (48 percent) fall into the category of workers who have gained weight at their current job.
But lack of exercise isn’t the only problem. Poor eating habits are also rampant among workers. Two in 5 workers (41 percent) find themselves eating as a result of stress. It also doesn’t help that nearly a quarter of workers (23 percent) eat out at least three times per week instead of bringing a lunch from home, and 21 percent can’t resist the temptations of the office candy jar.
How to burn calories while burning the candle at both ends
It’s easy to understand how work can lead to bad habits that cause weight gain. After all, who has the time or energy to go to the gym after working a nine-hour day? Or plan a healthy, well-balanced meal? However, weight gain can affect more than just the way your pants fit: It can also affect your mood, stress and energy levels, which can ultimately bleed into your work performance. If you feel like your job is causing you to gain weight and affect your health, try the following tips to keep the pounds at bay.