CHICAGO, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The workplace has
long been an enabler of Americans' ever-expanding waistlines, and
according to an annual survey by CareerBuilder, the stresses
associated with full-time employment will likely continue to
contribute to the problem.
Fifty-seven percent of U.S. workers feel they are overweight, up
from 55 percent in 2014. Additionally, 42 percent of workers say
they've gained weight in their present job, up from 39 percent last
year. Twenty-two percent reported gaining more than 10 pounds,
while 16 percent of workers say they've lost weight.
The national survey was conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder by
Harris Poll between February 11 and March 6,
2015 and included a representative sample of more than 3,000
full-time, U.S. workers across industries and company sizes.
Job stress may lead to weight gain
The survey reveals
a strong correlation between on-the-job stress levels and
overweight workers. Fewer than half of workers (47 percent) with
extremely low stress levels feel they are overweight compared to 70
percent of workers with extremely high stress levels. Meaning,
workers with extremely high on-the-job stress are 49 percent more
likely to say they're overweight than workers with extremely low
stress.
Stress Level of
Worker
|
Extremely
low
|
Low
|
Neutral
|
High
|
Extremely
High
|
%
Overweight
|
47%
|
52%
|
53%
|
66%
|
70%
|
When asked what they felt contributed to their weight gain at
their current job, 37 percent of workers said "eating because of
stress," and 43 percent said they are "too tired from work to
exercise." Sedentary behavior, however, is seen as the leading
culprit, in workers' minds. Fifty-six percent said "sitting at the
desk most of the day" contributed to the weight gain at their
present job.
"The health of a company's workforce is a paramount issue for
many employers, as neglecting it can significantly dampen workplace
morale and productivity," said Rosemary
Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.
"There's a clear incentive to make wellness and work-life balance a
focus of organizational culture, and we're encouraged to see many
companies making them a priority year-after-year."
More than 1 in 4 U.S. workers (27 percent) have access to
employer sponsored wellness benefits, including onsite workout
facilities and gym passes, but 63 percent of this group does not
take advantage of them.
The keys to losing weight on the job
While hardly
surprising, workers who managed to lose weight at their current job
tend to snack and eat out less, exercise more and take advantage of
their employers' wellness benefits. Even leaving one's desk for
lunch may encourage healthier habits.
|
Have Lost Weight
at Current Job
|
Have Gained Weight
at Current Job
|
Eat takeout or
dine out at least once week for lunch
|
52%
|
56%
|
Snack at
work
|
70%
|
75%
|
Eat lunch at
desk
|
51%
|
67%
|
Take advantage of
company gym or wellness benefits*
|
45%
|
34%
|
Exercise three or
more times a week
|
52%
|
37%
|
*Only employees of companies that offered wellness
benefits/gym memberships are included.
Who is adding extra notches to the belt?
Industry/Job type: Workers in desk or office-based jobs
are more likely to be gaining weight at their present job:
- Professional & Business Services: 51 percent
- IT: 48 percent
- Financial Services: 45 percent
- Health Care: 45 percent
- Sales: 41 percent
- Leisure & Hospitality: 39 percent
- Manufacturing 39 percent
- Retail: 35 percent
Gender: Women (46 percent) are more likely to report
gaining weight at their present jobs than men (38 percent).
Job-level: Workers in management roles (43 percent) are
almost equally likely as workers in non-management roles (42
percent) to report weight gains at their present jobs.
Age: Workers in the middle of their careers appear more
prone to weight gain than younger or mature workers. Forty-five
percent of workers age 35-54 reported gaining weight at their
present job, compared to 38 percent of workers age 18-34 and 39
percent of workers 55+.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online
within the U.S. by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder
among 3,105 workers ages 18 and over (employed full-time, not
self-employed, non-government) between
February 11 and March 6, 2015 (percentages for some
questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to
certain questions). With a pure probability sample of 3,105, one
could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results
have a sampling error of +/- 1.76 percentage points. Sampling
error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.
About CareerBuilderĀ® CareerBuilder is the global leader
in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract
great talent. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.comĀ®, is the
largest in the United States with
more than 24 million unique visitors and 1 million jobs.
CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers, providing
everything from labor market intelligence to talent management
software and other recruitment solutions. Owned by Gannett Co.,
Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company
(NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in
the United States, Europe, South
America, Canada and
Asia. For more information, visit
www.careerbuilder.com.
Media Contact
Ryan
Hunt
773-527-6923
ryan.hunt@careerbuilder.com
http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderPR
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SOURCE CareerBuilder