Working – Bad for the Waistline?

According to a CareerBuilder press release, one quarter of employees report they have gained more than ten pounds and 12% say they gained more than 20 pounds while in their present positions. Comparing genders, women are more likely (48%) than men (39%) to say they have gained weight at their current jobs.

Eating habits are the likely culprit in workplace weight gain, the survey indicates. Nearly two-in-five (39%) employees surveyed eat out for lunch twice or more per week, the press release said. Twelve percent buy their lunch out of a vending machine at least once a week.

Two-thirds (67%) of employees surveyed snack at least once a day, including 24% that snack twice a day. And the recession isn’t helping waistlines either, as one-in-ten respondents report increased snacking during the day due to concerns over the current economic situation.

Not many employees are doing much to stop weight; only 9% of employees say they go to the gym during lunch hour. The survey found one-quarter of companies now provide gym passes, workout facilities or wellness benefits.

The survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder.com among 4,435 U.S. workers (employed full-time; not self-employed; non government); ages 18 and over between February 20 and March 11, 2009.