Over two fifths (42%) of people working in public service say they have put on weight because of their job, a new survey is revealing.
The survey of public sector workers, conducted by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), found that nearly half (47%) of staff said their job has had a negative impact on their health in the past five years.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of those surveyed said their job has led them to drink more alcohol, one in ten (9%) said it’s been a trigger to smoke more, and 44% said it has caused them to exercise less than they would like to.
The survey also showed 60% of public sector workers regularly do unpaid overtime, leaving a quarter of them fearing their job could lead to a heart attack or heart condition.
Lisa Young, project manager for the BHF’s Health at Work programme, said: ‘This survey is a stark reminder of just what happens when we don’t take our health at work seriously enough. Millions of people say they are smoking more, exercising less and putting on weight because they’re not considering the impact their job is having on their health and wellbeing.’
BHF is encouraging all staff to take 10 minutes a day to improve their health at work, and take part in the 10 Minute Heart Month Challenge starting on 16 February.
