04/06/06

Improve Your Company’s Health along with Your Own: American Dietetic Association Advises Nation’s Workers to Eat Better and Get Moving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2006

Media contacts:  Jennifer Starkey, Julia Dombrowski
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4769
e-mail: media@eatright.org

CHICAGO – If your busy work day means breakfast is a cup of coffee as you run out the door and lunch is a quick bite at your desk between meetings, e-mails and phone calls, you may be negatively affecting your company’s health along with your own, say the food and nutrition experts of the American Dietetic Association.

“We want to have the energy to think clearly and focus on our priorities at work,” said registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Tara Gidus. “But many people don’t realize that what, when and how much we eat and exercise can significantly influence productivity, morale and safety.”

“Skipping a meal or eating unhealthy foods will not give you the energy you need to get your work done,” Gidus said. “To function optimally, your brain and central nervous system need a steady energy source from food. A recent study found that when workers miss at least one meal, feelings of lack of energy and motivation are more pronounced at the end of the work day.”

A survey of workplace eating habits conducted by the American Dietetic Association and the ConAgra Foods Foundation showed that as work hours increasingly extend past the standard dinner hour, many employees hunger for after-hours meal solutions. Thirty percent of workers said they head for office vending machine for snacks, and 20 percent say they wander the office looking for foods left over from meetings or office celebrations.

The types of food you eat at work affect your productivity, Gidus said. “Snacking on high-sugar items such as candy, soda and fruit juices will cause a surge in energy. But this spike is short-lived and leaves your body more tired than you were prior to eating.”

Conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are related to diet and can lead to more serious illnesses such as heart disease. A recent survey showed that employees with high blood pressure miss 67 percent more work than their healthier colleagues. In addition, people who engage in regular physical activity can lower their risk of developing chronic disease, potentially reducing workplace absenteeism, among many other benefits. Gidus offered some ideas for employees to eat healthfully and get moving at work with minimal effort:

  • Join a gym near work or take a walk around the block during the middle of the day to boost your energy for the afternoon.
  • Bring healthy snacks to work, such as pre-cut vegetables or fruit.
  • Set an alarm on your computer or block out time on your daily calendar to remind you to stop working and eat lunch.
  • Talk to a registered dietitian for advice on developing an eating plan that is personally tailored to your nutrition needs.

With approximately 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Chicago-based ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit ADA at www.eatright.org.

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