Is work making you fat
Is your job making you fat? It's time to step up at work
Tasmanian nurses take the most steps in a day at work while builders take the least amount of steps.
Somewhere in between are the rest of us, with cafe waiters near the top and secretaries near the bottom.
Weight-loss business Jenny Craig recently conducted a study of 14 occupations with hundreds of workers asked to wear pedometers throughout the day.
Nurses on average took 15,438 steps, teachers 7471, secretaries 2500 and builders just 1183.
The average adult should take more than 10,000 steps a day for good health.
The Premier's Activity Council manager Brook Teale says even if you walk to work, if you have a sedentary desk job, extra exercise is needed throughout the day.
"Irrespective of your level of activity during other parts of the day, there are health risks associated with long periods of sedentary time," he says.
"Changes in the way a lot of us work has meant that many Tasmanians are sitting for most of their working day.
"Employees should be finding ways to break up long periods of sitting and this needs to be supported by their employer."
He recommends taking the stairs instead of the lift, having walking meetings with colleagues or clients and going for a walk or taking a yoga class during your lunch hour.
Seven out of ten Tasmanians don't meet the nationally recommended minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
Mr Teale says it doesn't matter if you walk or run -- just get moving.
"The type of activity that you do doesn't really matter as long as you are actively doing something," he says.
However, it's not just a lack of exercise making us put on weight at work.
Office workers are the most guilty of snacking on high-calorie vending-machine food, says Community Nutrition Unit dietitian Alison Graham.
A lack of fresh whole foods in office canteens is also to blame, with pies, pastries and deep-fried food preferred options.
"It comes down to the food available in close proximity," Ms Graham says.
"If you work in an office it might be the fundraising chocky box, if you're a shift worker it might be that takeaways are the only food you can buy when you need it.
"That's why it's so important to plan ahead to make sure healthy choices are easy too."
She says 50 per cent of our daily food is consumed during office hours and the choices we make can have a major impact on our overall health.
That means saying no to sausage rolls and cakes at office celebrations and cutting back on sugar and milk during tea breaks.
"Morning teas of party food every day make it near impossible for people to eat well," Ms Graham says.
"If you're concerned about the types of foods at your workplace, it's a good idea to develop a healthy catering policy."
Mr Teale says it's up to employers to make healthy changes in the workplace, including providing a bike lock-up and adequate showers for people who ride to work.
"The idea of riding to work isn't very inspiring unless there is a shower at the end of it," he says.
"Employers should be making sure they support people who are making the effort."
He says healthy workers are three times more productive than unhealthy workers.
The Premier's Physical Activity Council has developed Get Moving At Work: A Resource Kit for Workplace Health and Wellbeing Programs. The kit is free by calling 1800 440 026.
Fit for work
- Ride or walk to work.
- Have walking meetings with colleagues and clients.
- Walk across the office to speak to colleagues instead of emailing.
- Take the stairs.
- Go for a walk in your lunch hour.
- Stand instead of sitting where you can.
- Use a fit ball at your desk.
- Got to a gym class or yoga at lunchtime.
- Get up and move around every hour.
- Cook extra vegetables at dinner-time for your lunch tomorrow.
- If you do buy your lunch, look for oil-free salads with plenty of raw vegetables.
- Keep a drink bottle or jug on your desk to remind you to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Stepping up
Nurse........ 15,438
Postman...... 14,183
Waiter......... 9313
Policeman...... 8333
Solicitor........ 8232
Teacher........ 7471
Courier......... 7377
Garbageman.... 6795
Judge.......... 6200
Firefighter...... 3130
Secretary....... 2500
Plumber........ 2543
Cleaner......... 2389
Builder......... 1183
