Eating and the Workplace
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Within most companies is an eating subculture. How do your co-workers celebrate success? How do they deal with stress? If pizza parties, a candy bowl and dinners out are part of your work environment, watch out!
A recent workplace study reported Diet and Exercise as the most pressing employee concerns. Unhealthy eating in the workplace and little time for exercise is a major health and lifestyle concern for many employees.
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Strategies to decrease stress eating. Welcome to stress. National tragedies... the war on terrorism... an economic downturn... the coming holidays... the day-to-day stress of our jobs and families... most of us face considerable stress and learning to deal with it is a vital skill. (full article)
Psychological and social effects of obesity. Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive. (full article)
Many people think that obese individuals are gluttonous, lazy, or both, even though this is not true. As a result, obese people often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common. To learn more about obesity... (full content section)
When 'helping' someone lose weight doesn't help! Being overweight is a major health problem in this country, and losing weight is usually the number one New Year's resolution. Often, someone overweight will find those closest offering all kinds of "help" and advice about losing weight. At least they think they're helping, but, unfortunately, nagging someone you love about those extra pounds often has the opposite effect. (full article)
What can you do? Staying on a diet or exercise plan is really hard if a co-worker entices you to "order-out".
Tips:
- Change the culture
- Bring lunch to work
- Burn "take-out" menus
- Walk at lunch
- Set an office wide weight loss goal
- Ban candy bowls
- Keep the Girl Scout's out at cookie sale time
- Find a "buddy" that will support your efforts
