Member Article

Regus Research Shows Home Workers Fear Getting Fat

The UK has been dubbed the ‘fat man of Europe’[1] and it seems working from home could be contributing to our expanding waistlines.

A third (32%) of the UK’s business professionals say that they fear getting fat due to the temptation to snack more when working from home compared to working in an office environment.

The research by global workplace provider Regus canvassed the opinions of more than 4,000 business people across the UK. The findings suggest that the solitude associated with working at home, coupled with ready accessibility to fridge, cupboard and larder, leads to more munching during the 9-5.

Remote working is on the rise; 45% of UK workers are now based outside of their main office for more than half the week. However, there are clear distinctions between working from home and working remotely from a flexible, professional workspace.

Richard Morris, UK CEO, Regus, comments: “Remote working has become something of a catch-all term. But working from home is different to working from a purpose-built, flexible workspace.

“The temptation to snack is just one of several distractions that can affect home-workers. Often, they are jostling for space with other members of the family, or called upon to assist with errands during working hours.

“Alternatively, flexible workspace provides workers with convenience in terms of location but also offers an environment that is immediately professional and geared towards productivity. Now, it seems that there are health benefits too.

“Working from home makes it easy to reach for a doughnut whilst still in your pyjamas. This look is not so popular in a workspace surrounded by professional peers!”

[1] http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/loseweight/pages/statistics-and-causes-of-the-obesity-epidemic-in-the-uk.aspx

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Biz Now .