Charities urge workers to make time to get away from desk - or risk long-term health problems
Pressure at work is stopping almost three in five employees from regularly leaving the office for a lunchtime stroll and could be having a detrimental long-term effect on the health of millions of workers.
A survey commissioned by the National Charity Partnership, a collaboration between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Tesco, found that office workers say heavy workloads (32%), workplace culture (14%) and stress (13%) are to blame for not getting away from their desks for a walk at lunchtime.
Despite more than nine in ten workers reporting that being outside makes them feel healthier or more positive, more than half of those who were questioned never leave their office for lunch.
Almost one in four say they regularly work through their break.
The partnership is calling on workers to reclaim their lunch break and get walking to help protect their wellbeing. It is encouraging people to use its free online motivational tool to help people set simple, realistic goals to move more.
Babs Evans, head of prevention for the National Charity Partnership, said: “When you’re under pressure at work it’s easy to forego a lunch break and instead grab a quick bite at your desk, but this isn't healthy.
"Work-related stress puts a strain on your mental wellbeing and can have a knock-on effect on your physical health. People under too much pressure at work are more likely to eat unhealthily and stop being active: behaviours which are linked to a number of health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.
"Both conditions are serious and affect millions of people in the UK, with millions more at risk. However, they are largely preventable and being active is an effective way to help reduce your risk.
Work-related stress puts a strain on your mental wellbeing and can have a knock-on effect
"Even just a 10 minute break away from your desk to go for a walk and clear your head can help to make a big difference with stress relief, which in turn is good for your health."
More people than ever before are being diagnosed with either Type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Around 3.6 million people in the UK currently live with Type 2 diabetes and an estimated seven million have heart and circulatory disease. Both conditions are potentially life-threatening if left untreated and Type 2 diabetes can double the risk of developing heart and circulatory disease.
Being physically active is known to help reduce the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease. However, only 5% of workers who were surveyed do something active during their lunch break, such as going to the gym or for a walk. More than one in five said they simply cannot be bothered.
This comes after figures released by the BHF at the start of 2016 which found that one in five Brits openly admit to not exercising. Meanwhile, 83% do not know what the recommended weekly level of physical activity is.
The National Charity Partnership is running a campaign, Let's Do This, to support adults to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease by taking small steps towards healthier lifestyles. Its online Goal Setter allows people to set and monitor their health-related targets and encourages them to stay motivated and achieve their goals.
