Dangers of Your Desk Job

Whether you’re celebrating a co-worker’s birthday or cramming a cookie before that 4 p.m. meeting, office snacks can be a health hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite that many people begin snacking when they see or smell others eating, they’re feeling stressed, or they’re tired. These are all situations common in an office. One study published in the Journal of Nutrition found those who ate more than three times a day were more likely to be in the overweight body mass index range. Being overweight puts you at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney and liver disease, cancer, stroke and many other health problems. If you’re distracted by the urge to eat, keep in mind that the recommended snack size is about 200 calories. Also, make sure you’re eating because you’re hungry — not because you’re bored. The Journal of Nutrition study offered tentative evidence that snacking while not hungry negatively affected energy levels and led to weight gain.