Dealing with a weighty issue

Jo Faragher

Despite warnings about the onset of diabetes and other conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure, the UK’s obesity situation is getting worse. According to statistics, the number of people with obesity in the UK has more than trebled in the last 25 years.

And the workplace doesn’t seem to be helping the problem, either. A survey by CareerBuilder.co.uk has just revealed that more than two in five workers have gained weight in their current jobs, and many have put on more than 10lbs.

Stress and workload are clearly key factors in this trend: respondents said they were often too tired to exercise before or after work, sat at their desk most of the day or ate more because they were stressed.

CareerBuilder advises employers to encourage workers to take breaks and stay active, especially given that only around a quarter of the employers they surveyed offer a gym membership to their staff.

But it doesn’t have to be so black and white. There are a number of ways to encourage staff to be healthier without dictating what they can or can’t eat, or forcing them to do daily workouts.

An innovative new approach called StepJockey challenges employees to see who can climb the most stairs in office blocks, for example. This sort of ‘game’ approach can easily get staff to make small changes to their day and is being used at companies such as Legal & General.

Some companies use established health apps and hardware from companies such as FitBit, tracking the wellness data of employees so they can get a broader picture of where there are any issues that need to be addressed. In many cases they report increased productivity and reduced absence. Even something as low-cost as offering a daily fruit bowl could sway workers away from the biscuit tin and towards something healthier.

Ignoring these statistics could have consequences down the line. One prediction suggests that half of Britons will be obese by 2030, meaning employers may well need to make costly adjustments to how staff work or to accommodate any related conditions. So while it’s true to say employees should take charge of their own wellness, giving them a helping hand could prove a positive move in the long term.