Recent Figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO) have revealed that more than one billion adults are overweight worldwide,300 million of which are classified as “clinically obese”.
The Middle East region has not escaped the obesity epidemic which has raised concerns of officials and residents across the region (25.6% of men and39.9% of women were found to be obese in the UAE , while26.4% of men and44% of women were found to be obese in KSA). A poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle are the primary factors inducing excessive weight gain and associated riskier health issues.
How can a working professional develop a healthier lifestyle at the workplace and thus lower the risk of raised BMI and diet-related chronic diseases? (such as diabetes, hypertension, etc…)
A hearty breakfast is key to maintaining your food balance throughout the day (aim for a healthy daily3 to5 meal plan)
Pack your lunch: a homemade lunch is by all means much healthier than vending machine treats and many food court fast foods. Also, keep healthy snacks within reach at your desk so that you can easily and readily shun all unhealthy food cravings.
Regardless of whether it’s a30 minute or an hour-long lunch break, make it a point to get out of the office and take a stroll around your building or the neighborhood. If it’s too hot or too cold to walk outside grab a cab and up that heart rate by enjoying a brisk walk at the closest mall/ shopping center/ park, etc…
Always have your bottles of water stored at work. Do not settle for less than8 glasses a day. People often tend to forget about drinking water in the midst of a busy working day. Keep your water within reach at all times while working in order for you to avoid dehydration, lack of energy and eventually inefficiency at work. Worn-out bodies and souls are naturally not as productive as healthy energetic ones!
Do you need to share a word with a colleague down the hall? Walk down to him/ her instead of using the phone or e-mail. Do you have an urgent request from the IT department on the second floor? Walk up or down the stairs to him. This simple effort will keep your blood circulation in tune.
Being a full time employee translates into spending most of your time at work. Do you and your colleagues trust management should better equip you with healthy lifestyle boosting measures? Would an office cafeteria (that caters healthy foods), a company gym, or organizational outdoor activities keep you more fit? Suggest the options you find viable to the upper echelons in the organization. At the end of the day, matter will all translate into improved ROI:
Get those persuasive skills of yours rolling and let the fun begin!
