Londoners blame employers for high levels of obesity

New research shows

Employers are contributing to higher levels of obesity,new research has found.

Almost half (46 per cent) of workers in the capital claim their employers have directly contributed to higher levels of obesity, followed by 39 per cent of Scottish employees.

Longer working hours preventing exercise was cited by half (50 per cent) as the main reason for this, according to the study of 1,197 workers by Willis PMI Group, part of Willis Towers Watson.

Almost two-fifths (37 per cent) blamed unhealthy canteen food while a lack of adequate kitchen facilities for food preparation (36 per cent) and a lack of exercise facilities and initiatives (35 per cent) were said to be the third and fourth biggest factors behind the assertion.

“The government estimates obesity contributes to the loss of 16 million certified incapacity days each year and this research suggests employers may be part of the problem, rather than part of the solution,” said Mike Blake, Director at Willis PMI Group.

“The findings call for businesses in London to review their existing workplace cultures and practices and, where appropriate, proactively adopt health and wellbeing initiatives.”

Nationwide, younger workers were more critical of their employers than their older colleagues. Forty-two per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds blamed their bosses for contributing to higher levels of obesity, compared with just 29 per cent of 35 to 64-year-olds.

The study revealed that only 15 per cent of employers across the UK currently offer cut-price gym memberships, 13 per cent offer on-site gym facilities, 10 per cent offer fitness classes and just six per cent offer dedicated weight-loss schemes.