Weight and Work – 44 percent of workers say they’ve gained weight in their current job

• Women (49 percent) are more likely than men (39 percent) to report gaining weight
• While a quarter of employees have access to employer-sponsored wellness benefits, 55 percent of this group does not take advantage of them
• Fewer than half of workers with extremely low stress levels (41 percent) feel they are overweight compared to 77 percent of workers with extremely high stress levels 

Feel like you’re gaining weight sitting behind your desk? You’re not alone. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 55 percent of U.S. workers feel they are overweight, and 44 percent of workers say they’ve gained weight in their present job. Twenty-five percent reported gaining more than 10 pounds, while 17 percent of workers say they’ve lost weight.When asked what they felt contributed to their weight gain at their current job, 53 percent said “sitting at the desk most of the day,” 45 percent said they are “too tired from work to exercise,” and 36 percent of workers said “eating because of stress.

”The national survey was conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder by Harris Poll between February 10 and March 17, 2016 and included a representative sample of more than 3,000 full-time, U.S. workers in the private sector across industries and company sizes.

Is stress to blame?

Survey results reveal a strong association between on-the-job stress levels and workers who say they are overweight. Fewer than half of workers (41 percent) with extremely low stress levels feel they are overweight compared to 77 percent of workers with extremely high stress levels. Meaning, workers who say they have extremely high on-the-job stress are 53 percent more likely to say they’re overweight than workers who say they have extremely low stress.

In effort to help promote healthy living at the office, some employers have put wellness initiatives in place. Still, while a quarter of employees (25 percent) have access to employer sponsored wellness benefits, including onsite workout facilities and gym passes, 55 percent of this group does not take advantage of them.

“Workers are becoming more and more health conscious, but due to higher stress, longer work days and constant multitasking, it is more difficult to find the time to act on wellness goals,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer for CareerBuilder. “To make wellness at work a priority, companies should emphasize its importance from top leadership down and focus on engagement, motivation, support and strategy when implementing new programs.”

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at More Than 2 in 5 Workers Have Gained Weight at Their Current Job, Finds CareerBuilder Survey – CareerBuilder

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