Over half chained to their desks for most of the day.
British Heart Foundation revealed new survey results which show that more than one in three (35%) workers avoid exercise during their working day because they don’t want to be seen getting hot and sweaty in front of colleagues.
Over half (55%) spend more than half their working day sitting or standing still. Nearly as many (48%) eat lunch at their desks, while just over one in six workers (16%) feel the pressure to take a shorter break.
The figures paint a worrying picture of Britain’s workplace habits, with 81% of UK workers failing to get the recommended amount of exercise a week.
British Heart Foundation are releasing these statistics to mark World Heart Day on Sunday 26 September and promote its Health at Work programme, which helps workers get active and lead a healthier lifestyle. A recent government report estimates that at the current rate of waistline expansion 36% of men and 28% of women in England will be obese in just five years, paving the way for a surge in heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
The new survey also suggests that workplaces are the perfect location for keeping fit and active, with half of UK workers (50%) admitting they won’t travel more than 10 minutes from work or home to exercise.