Obesity: Don't Eat Lunch at Work Desk

When I worked at the studios, I always left the office and walked with friends to pick up lunch at the commissary, the lunch truck or I walked to the mall to pick up a salad.  I walked.  I exercised.  I was at my thinnest while working in the studios, it was easy to maintain and for good reason.  In fact, I walked all over the studio lot or I walked to my lunch.

Why eating your lunch at your desk can make you fat: Tucking in at the office is a fast track to obesity, say experts

I know people who eat at their work desk every day and it's no surprise they're overweight.  They arrive at the office at sun-up, tend to an executive's needs all day long, until sun-down.  They never get a much-needed break from sitting at that desk.

I believe all employees, of every level, deserve a mental health break from work.  I believe it makes for better habits and increased focus.  That break time away from your desk is as important as taking a power nap.

So, if you're a lunch eater at your work desk, try to change this habit at work.  Insist on taking a break from your desk.  Take a walk outside, even if it's only down the street.  I walked for about 20 minutes of my lunch hour every day.  After lunch, I felt energized, not sluggish.

When I recently served on jury duty, there were two women running the jury room.  They were both nice and very good at their work.

One woman stayed in for lunch and ate at her desk.  She was morbidly obese.

The other woman changed her clothes into a gym outfit and sneakers, walked to the gym available to the courthouse, she exercised for 45 minutes, returned to the jury room, changed her clothes and went back to work.  She was a healthy sized woman.  She must have had her lunch while away at the gym because I didn't even see her snacking at her desk afterward.

It becomes obvious if you see the blatant differences in behavior.

Bosses:  If you want your staff to be thinner and healthier, give them time away from their desk for lunch.  Don't insist that they have only working lunches, running the phones.  People rarely call over their lunch hour, you're not going to miss a thing.  If someone does call over lunch and no one answers, we have answering machines or they will call back.

Employees:  You need a break from work.  Living at work creates negative feelings.  If at all possible, try to take a break from your desk and make the healthier choice.  Your health deserves a break!