Stress, Late-night Meals... 7 out of 10 Office Workers Say "Gained Weight After Starting Work"

Over 80% Report "Changed Eating Habits Due to Overwork"
Quick Meals, Binge Eating, and Late-Night Snacks Lead to Weight Gain

A recent survey found that 7 out of 10 office workers gained weight after starting their jobs. The main reasons cited were hurried meals and binge eating due to stress.

365mc, a medical institution specializing in liposuction, recently released the results of a survey on the relationship between office work and weight gain. The survey targeted 366 clients who had undergone liposuction or LAMS procedures.

According to the survey, more than 7 out of 10 respondents said they had experienced overwork during their professional careers. When asked if they had ever considered their workload to be excessive, 50.5% (185 people) answered "occasionally," and 22.1% (81 people) said "frequently."

Among those who experienced overwork, 83.5% (222 people) also reported changes in their eating habits. The most common change was "eating meals more quickly," cited by 48% (106 people, multiple responses allowed).

This was followed by ▲"eating meals at late hours" at 47.1% (104 people), ▲"increased food intake" at 46.4% (103 people), and ▲"eating more high-calorie foods" at 44.1% (98 people).

More than 70% of office workers responded that they had gained weight. Specifically, 74.3% of all respondents, or 272 people, reported weight gain. Of these, 27.0% (99 people) said their weight had "increased significantly."

More specifically, the most common weight gain was 4 to 6 kg, reported by 34.2% (93 people), followed by 1 to 3 kg at 32% (87 people). There were also 18.8% (51 people) who gained 10 kg or more.

As for the reasons why overwork contributed to weight gain, "binge eating due to stress" was cited most frequently at 75.7% (206 people, multiple responses allowed). Other reasons included ▲"establishing unhealthy eating habits such as late-night meals due to coming home late" at 49.3% (134 people), ▲"negative impact on sleep duration and quality" at 48.2% (131 people), and ▲"lack of time to exercise" at 45.4% (123 people).

Additionally, the survey found that losing weight gained during office work had a positive impact on subsequent work life. When asked whether they thought weight loss had a positive effect on their professional life, 75.4% (205 people) answered "agree or strongly agree."

Specific positive effects included ▲"increased self-esteem" at 91.2% (187 people), ▲"positive impact on health" at 64.4% (132 people), ▲"better stress management" at 50.2% (102 people), and ▲"improved relationships with colleagues" at 13.2% (27 people).