Office Workers Who Sit Long Hours Are Prone to Weight Gain
Australian researchers recently found that men sitting at desks for more than six hours daily have double the likelihood of being overweight compared to men sitting fewer than 45 minutes daily. Women, however, face less risk due to frequent walking in office environments.
Researchers from Queensland University collected data from over 1,500 full-time male and female workers in Australia, comparing body mass index (BMI), gender, occupation, leisure activities, and time spent sitting during work.
The findings revealed that workers spend an average of over three hours sitting daily—men average 209 minutes, women 189 minutes. One-quarter of workers sit for over six hours daily. The study found a clear link between sitting duration and increased risk of overweight or obesity in men, but not in women. Those who sit longer have a 68% higher chance of being overweight (BMI > 25).
Researchers noted that men sit about 20 minutes more per day than women, contributing significantly to the gender gap in overweight prevalence. Even after adjusting for age, occupation, and outdoor leisure activity, the association remained: the longer men sit at work, the more likely they are to gain weight. No such correlation was observed in women.