Studies Show

Step Away From Your Desk Before It Kills You

In case that kink in your neck isn’t enough of a reminder, your job is destroying your body. Sorry to keep saying things like this, but you may as well know the extent of what you face as a professional. It’s not just hard on bones — it’s making you gain weight, according to new research.

The International Journal of Obesity finds that middle-aged Australian women who work more than 35 hours per week are at a greater risk of packing on pounds. This may not be applicable to you 20-somethings, but the odds are already stacked against you if you’re sitting all day and getting minimal amounts of exercise, so rest assured knowing it only gets worse.

You can probably guess why working tirelessly could increase your pants size, but one of the researchers has a detailed description as to why the unfortunate phenomenon often occurs:

“Extended work hours may reduce the time spent preparing home-cooked meals, exercising and sleeping which are risk factors for obesity. Policies that assist women who work long hours to reduce the time costs of sustaining a healthy diet and their physical activity routine may have positive benefits.”

This may be avoided by getting up and taking a walk every hour or so and even going so far as to stretch or workout during one’s lunch break. I’m not apt enough to do the latter, but I do believing in doing athletic stretches in the bathroom several times a day, and I suggest you make a habit out of it as well. If you’re unsatisfied for a laundry list of reasons, here’s what I have to say to you: Don’t let your desk job ruin your body along with your soul.

TAGS: weight | working crazy hours

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