A new nationwide study of 2,000 Britons conducted by Oxford Online Pharmacy claims lettings and estate agents are in one of the least healthy professions. 

The survey also quizzed respondents across 32 occupations, to discover which find snacking at work a major obstacle to weight loss. 

Estate and letting agents are the most affected with over a third (37.5%) of respondents working in this sector blaming ‘work snacks and vending’ machines for weight issues. 

In joint second place, 33.33% of firefighters and broadcasters said workplace snacking was a barrier. Meanwhile, over a quarter of taxi and lorry drivers (26.67%) stated eating while on the job did little to help their waistline. 

All these professions also stated that lack of time to cook was a major barrier to weight loss.  

Oxford Online Pharmacy has given lettings agents and companies tips to reduce the problem:

For employees: 

Pre-plan lunch and snacks – If grab-and-go and fast-food options are stopping you from eating healthy and nutritious lunches or snacks, it’s time you took back control and packed your own. Instead of relying on quick, unhealthy options, consider packing a lunchbox filled with lean proteins and fruits and vegetables, as well as plenty of nutritious snacks. 

Wraps or pittas with lean meat and salad are easy to eat on the go, while lunchboxes filled with a variety of snacks like dried fruit, wholegrain crackers and instant porridge oats are relatively low-calorie and great emergency snacks to avoid temptation from vending machines. Unsalted nuts, Greek yoghurt or high-fibre snack bars with low sugar are also good snack options, as they are high in protein and fibre to keep you fuller for longer and avoid sugar crashes. Soups in thermos flasks are also perfect for weight loss if you prefer a hot meal or avoid food wastage by boxing up last night’s leftovers. 

Drink plenty of water –

Not everyone is familiar with this, but when you’re hungry it actually can be a key sign you’re dehydrated.  So, before reaching for the snacks, ensure you have a refillable water bottle with you wherever you are and aim to drink at least 2-2.5 litres a day. If you’re not a water fan, this can be substituted for squash, tea, coffee or other non-alcoholic beverages. 

For employers:  

Rethink supplied snacks – While you can’t necessarily control what workers eat when they’re on the road, you can switch up the food that’s available in the workplace. For example, consider switching traditional snack machines with healthier options that contain things like fresh fruit, low-sugar granola bars, unsweetened yoghurts or trail mix.  If you haven’t got the budget, it’s vital you ensure the facilities are available for people to prepare or store their meals, such as fridges, microwaves and counter space. 

Introduce flexible eating windows – It’s not always easy to eat when you’re constantly moving from place to place or working inflexible hours.  Encourage workers to set their own break times where they can eat in peace between jobs. Rushing or skipping meals can result in poor food choices later in the day and irregular eating patterns can have an impact on mood and energy levels.

Invest in workplace wellness – Weight gain may affect employee wellbeing, which can be a catalyst for loss of productivity. Therefore, it’s in employers’ best interest, especially those in the industries mentioned, to encourage healthy lifestyles i.e. eating healthily and undertaking exercise. Invest in workplace wellbeing by encouraging employees to stand up, stretch and move more. This could be something as simple as introducing walking meetings, or short wellbeing breaks to deter stress-induced snacking.