Top 5 Industries That Can Make You Fat
Life + Money

Top 5 Industries That Can Make You Fat

Reuters/Toby Melville

U.S. workers are packing on the pounds. Between stresses, jobs that keep people seated in front of a computer all day, and the occasional celebratory cupcakes your co-workers bring to the office, it’s hard to avoid an expanding waistline.

More than half of workers recently surveyed by a Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder, or 55 percent, see themselves as overweight. Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed say they’ve gained weight at their current jobs, with 21 percent putting on more than 10 pounds and 9 percent putting on more than 20 pounds. The survey was conducted online between Feb. 10 and March 4 and included more than 3,000 full-time workers.

Some categories of workers including management, workers aged 35 and over, and women, are more likely to gain weight at the office than others. Similarly, there are some industries where workers are more prone to weight gain. If you’re in a sedentary or stressful job, it’s easy to neglect your health.

Here are the top five industries where workers outpaced the national average for weight gain:

1.     Information technology

50 percent of workers said they gained weight in their current job.

2.     Government
48 percent of workers said they gained weight in their current job.

Related: The Flabby Business of Shrinking Waistlines

3.     Financial services

46 percent of workers said they gained weight in their current job.

4.     Health care

42 percent of workers said they gained weight in their current job.

5.     Professional and business services

42 percent of workers said they gained weight in their current job.

If you are overweight and want to stay fit at work, chances are you already know what to do, but here are some quick tips:

  • Set a personal rule regarding treats in the office, such as a per-week limit.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevators and get up from your desk several times a day.
  • It’s also a good idea to pack your lunch and avoid eating out.
  • Finally, look into perks such as discounted gym memberships and other wellness benefits that your employer may offer.

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