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Transportation/material movers tread a dangerous road. While the greater majority of Americans have stopped smoking, these professionals haven’t kicked the habit yet. Nearly a quarter smoke, making them the profession that smokes the most of all the jobs studied.
Stop sampling the merchandise
It’s got to be hard working around all that food. It turns out people who work with food may give into temptation too much; 79% in this study had poor diets.
Health mischief managed
The proverbial fat cats need a different name. The healthiest professionals in this study are managers. Professionals like doctors and lawyers do better, too. They hit the gym fairly regularly and 75% are considered at least moderately active. One-third had ideal body mass. And rarely will you find a manager standing outside the office with the smokers, as only 6% smoke. The one set of managers and professionals that doesn’t fare as well are people in finance and business. They eat poorly. Maybe the Great Recession made them stress eaters.
The study’s co-author, Dr. Leslie MacDonald with the U.S. Public Health Service, said it is important to keep in mind that good heart health is “not an all or nothing proposition.” Incorporating baby steps into your routine like having healthy snacks on hand or taking a walk rather than reaching for that chocolate when you are stressed can help.
She is sympathetic to those who struggle. “Faced with inadequate control and resources to meet job demands, or with unpleasant interactions with a boss or co-workers/customers, may drain a worker’s resolve to adopt or sustain health promoting habits,” she said in an email. “When feeling stressed, it’s harder to resist reaching for a cigarette or simple carbohydrates or chocolate.”
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