CHICAGO, June 21 (UPI) -- With the economy improving, workers may have more time to take a walk during a break because some U.S. workers are slimming down, a survey indicates.
The CareerBuilder survey of 5,671 U.S. workers -- full-time employees, not self-employed or government -- indicates 18 percent of workers report they've lost weight in their current jobs, compared to 16 percent last year. However, 43 percent say they have gained weight in their current jobs, more in line with findings from the last two years.
One-quarter of workers say stress contributed to their weight gain, down from 32 percent last year, but other factors office workers cite for contributing to their weight gain include:
-- 26 percent say sitting at a desk most of the day.
-- 16 percent say eating out regularly.
-- 13 percent say skipping meals because of time constraints.
-- 12 percent say workplace celebrations such as potlucks, birthdays, etc.
"While many employees still struggle to lose weight, it's encouraging to see that more workers are embracing healthier habits at the office," Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder, says in a statement.
Twenty-eight percent of companies provide gym passes, workout facilities or wellness benefits, Haefner says. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive Feb. 21 to March 10, has a margin of error of 1.3 percentage points.
