Specialists are calling for changes to British work habits as fears of office ‘cake culture’ grow.
While January is saturated with diets and detoxes, experts believe many won’t make lasting effects, and could give up before the month is up.
“It’s easy to fall into bad habits when it comes to food in the workplace,” explains Danny Clarke, group operations director for the ELAS Group. “How many of us came into work today to find piles of chocolates, biscuits or cakes?”
The concern stems from the ‘temptation’ by workers to snack through the day, and urges companies to offer healthy alternatives in vending machines.
This comes following the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of Dental Surgery released a statement, claiming confectionery was the fastest growing food category this Christmas, with a year-on-year increase of 8.8%.
“While these sweet treats might be well meaning, they are also contributing to the current obesity epidemic and poor oral health,” said Faculty dean, Professor Nigel Hunt, adding that something as simple as regulating when you eat sugar could make a big difference.
These ‘sugar schedules’ could help reduce the approximately 63% of obese adults in England.
“We need a culture change,” says Professor Hunt. “Make combatting cake culture in your workplace one of your New Year’s resolutions for a healthier 2017.”
