It’s true, your workplace may be contributing to weight gain

Often times, food in the workplace can brighten your day. Whether it’s free cake to celebrate a colleague’s birthday, wiggling that stuck bag of potato chips out of the vending machine, or pitching in five bucks to get your favorite pizza, food is very prevalent in the workplace.

But unfortunately for America, obesity has become an epidemic and researchers are suggesting to provide healthier options for employees.

Over 23% of workers said they have either bought or had free food at work that scored high on empty calories.

“The leading food types obtained included foods typically high in solid fat, added sugars, or sodium, such as pizza, regular soft drinks, cookies or brownies, cakes and pies, and candy,” according to the paper appearing in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The study found that because many Americans spend the majority of their time in the workplace, they might be prone to stress eating.

Some workplaces are hoping to promote a healthier lifestyle by implementing wellness programs that support physical and mental health. By offering workers better alternatives to the usual Taco Tuesdays, company’s can help employees help themselves.

Despite this, poor diet habits in the workplace aren’t solely to blame for the nation’s obesity epidemic. This public health issue has less to do with calorie counting, and more to do with accessibility to healthy foods.