Office Weight Gain: Work It Off!

It's easier to take time to work out and live a healthy lifestyle if you're not cooped up in a cubicle in front of a computer keeping up with deadlines and dealing with office intrigue. Everyone knows that the workplace is often the reason why people suffer stress and experience weight gain. To make matters worse, there are candy and vending machines all over the office that hard to ignore. All these things can add up to high blood pressure and obesity.

Can this sorry state be turned around? Is it possible to make changes in the workplace so that just by being there you, the employee, can lose weight and lower your blood pressure? A year-long Emory University study sought to answer that question.

To encourage employees to eat better, get more physical activity and learn how to take better care of themselves, the Dow Chemical Company took part in a program called Lighten UP which was done in partnership with Emory University's Institute for Health and Productivity Studies. The company made the necessary changes so that the above objectives can be met.

The Dow Chemical employees, in nine of its locations in the U.S., were given access to walking trails and pedometer programs. They were also provided with healthier food choices in both the vending machines and the cafeterias.

In addition, the company also had an information campaign on fitness and weight-management programs and provided health assessments and individual consultations for the benefit of its employees. Aside from all that, online behavior change programs were made available to the workers.

In three Dow company locations however, employees were only given individual access to the company's traditional health promotion program that emphasizes education and behavior change and not the extensive workplace intervention that was enforced in the nine locations.

Unsurprisingly, the results of the study showed that employees at the nine locations enjoyed a significant reduction in their risk of high blood pressure and maintained a steady weight when compared to employees at sites who only received individual help.

It would be great if all the workplaces in America had a program like that of the Dow Chemical Company's. Other companies are undertaking similar studies with the goal of fighting heart disease, diabetes and obesity at work, because after all, people spend the majority of their time in the office.

If your office is far from taking the initiative to help you and your co-workers manage your weight, then do it yourself. Use the following steps as your guide:

1. Go for a walk. Actually, just do anything to get your body moving. After hours in front of the computer, you need to break the boredom and give your eyes some rest. You can go for a brisk walk during lunch break and it doesn't have to be long either, 10 minutes is enough. Even just taking the stairs instead of the elevator will help burn extra calories.

2. Start bringing your lunch to work. Not having to buy lunch at work will not only help you control what you eat but how much as well. Needless to say, you will also get to save a few bucks. Furthermore, bringing in some healthy snacks will keep you from dropping your coins into the office vending machine. You'll find yourself losing weight without even trying!

3. Join a gym near your office. If you're up to something more challenging than a short brisk walk, find a gym that's near your workplace. You can spend your lunch attending a midday exercise class or doing a round of circuit training. Working out at midday has its benefits--you are not as rushed as you are in the morning, and you're not too tired from sitting in your cubicle the whole day.

4. Pair up at work. Find an exercise buddy from work. If you work for a large company, ask around, you might end up finding a new like-minded friend. You and your partner can agree to be accountable to each other and this fosters discipline and commitment which would help both of you tremendously as you work towards your fitness goals. Also, it's great to have someone encourage you and keep you motivated.

How about getting your co-workers interested in getting in shape? One way to do this is by hosting a weight-loss contest in the office. There may only be one who will receive the prize but just by participating in fitness activities, everyone will be a winner. Does the company you work for have a wellness program? Is there anything you do to keep from gaining weight while at work? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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