10 jobs that can make you fat

Between office donuts and vending-machine dining, some professions are worse for the waistline than others.

By

Chad Brooks, BusinessNewsDaily

Fri, Jun 08 2012 at 11:58 AM

Related Topics:

Healthy Eating, Green Jobs, MNN lists

Photo: Pannonia/iStockphoto

Some jobs just aren't good for the waistline.

Travel agents, lawyers and judges are most likely to gain weight on the job, according to a new survey from CareerBuilder.

Overall, the study found that two in five workers have gained weight at their current job. More than a quarter added on at least 10 pounds, with 14 percent packing on more than 20 pounds.

Other occupations the research found to have a higher prevalence of workers gaining weight include:

Social worker
Teacher
Artist/designer/architect
Administrative assistant
Physician
Protective services (police, firefighter)
Marketing/public relations professional
Information technology professional

More than half of the workers surveyed attributed their weight gain to sitting at their desk most of the day.

Other culprits include stress-related eating, skipping meals because of time constraints, workplace celebrations, the office candy jar and the pressure to eat food co-workers bring in.

The study shows lunch is playing a role in the weight gain as well. More than half of employees eat out at least once a week, with 23 percent dining out at least three times a week.

In addition, 10 percent of workers eat lunch out of the vending machine each week.

Not helping the situation is the little bit of exercise employees are getting in. The survey found more than 40 percent of workers don't work out regularly, with 10 percent never hitting the gym.

Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, said more and more companies areencouraging employees to stay fit by implementing healthy living initiatives in the workplace.

While nearly 30 percent of companies provide gym passes, workout facilities or wellness benefits for their employees, just 10 percent of workers are taking advantage of it, Haefner said.

"It’s important to tap into those resources to stay healthy and energized and potentially more productive," she said. [7 Companies Cashing In on Americans' Obesity]

In addition to being good for your health, staying trim has other advantages in the workplace.

According to a WSJ.com article, workers who exercise regularly earn 9 percent higher pay on average than those who don’t.

Haefner recommends the following tips to help push away the extra pounds this summer:

Walk More: Take the stairs instead of the elevator or stop by a co-worker’s desk instead of sending an email. Get off at an earlier train stop or bus stop and walk part of the way to the office.
Snack Healthy: Keep plenty of veggies and fruits in the office fridge so you have a healthier choice on hand.
Pack a Lunch: Bringing a lunch to work helps to better control portions and also saves money.
Choose Water:Drink water throughout the day instead of caffeinated drinks or juices.
Sneak in Exercise: Taking daily walks with a co-worker, replacing a chair with an exercise ball for part of the day, and using free weights at your desk are all quick and easy solutions.

The study was based on surveys of more than 5,700 full-time employees.

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