Unhealthy Habits and Your Job
from Produce for Better Health
A poor diet, little exercise, and smoking contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. But did you know they can also affect your productivity at work?
A balanced diet, daily physical activity, and other healthy habits are essential to optimal health but it’s a daunting task for some to make healthy lifestyle changes. Many myths about living a healthy lifestyle (too expensive, time consuming, inconvenient) prevent people from attempting change. Research now suggests that those who eat limited amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, who get limited exercise, and who smoke, are less productive.
A new study published in Population Health Management suggests that a single unhealthy behavior can increase the likelihood of a loss in productivity. It included employees within three (3) geographically dispersed companies and found that employees with an unhealthy diet were 66% more likely to experience less productivity. Employees who exercised only occasionally were 50% more likely to report less productivity than those who exercised regularly, and smokers were 28% more likely to suffer from a drop in productivity than non-smokers. Ray Merrill, a Professor in the Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, noted that productivity losses costs employers 2 to 3 times more than annual healthcare costs.
We do know that healthy weight management requires both physical activity and proper nourishment without overloading on calories. There are many benefits to gain from participating in physical activity and eating a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins. For example, maintaining a healthy weight, active lifestyle, and balanced diet will provide you with more energy to accomplish tasks throughout your day. So, it’s important to encourage and empower your family to get active and to eat healthfully. You’ll notice the benefits at home, work, school, and even when you sleep!