In the end, these challenges of eating at the office are not unusual; In fact, a large study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition found that the foods we eat at work usually contain large amounts of sodium and refined grains and not a lot of whole grains and fruits.
What the study reveals:
"To our knowledge, this is the first national study of food at work," said Stephen Onufrak, an epidemiologist in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. diseases.
"Our findings suggest that the foods people eat in their workplaces do not fit well with dietary guidelines and recommendations. "
The study looked at the eating habits of 5,222 employees in the United States and included food or beverages purchased at work from vending machines or cafeterias (or provided free of charge in common areas).
According to data collected nearly a quarter of participants ate food they had at work at least once a week, or nearly 1,300 calories a week.
Predictably enough, the foods we eat at our desks tend to be high in empty calories (the wrong type that comes from solid fats and / or added sugars). And it's not just going back and forth to the vending machine in the hallway, more than 70% of those empty calories come from the food we receive for free.
What are the measures to take?
Not surprisingly, the authors of the study invite employers to offer healthier and more attractive options for their employees. They also suggested implementing wellness initiatives in the workplace to help everyone be on the same page on healthy eating.