Embarrassment preventing workers from exercising

Workers are avoiding incorporating exercise into a healthcare plan as they are embarrassed, a new study has found.

A survey by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has revealed that 35 per cent of workers avoid exercise during their working day because they do not want to be seen getting hot and sweaty in front of colleagues.

But the organisation is concerned this may be contributing to health problems among Britain's work force as 81 per cent of workers are failing to get the recommended amount of exercise each week.

Lisa Purcell, project manager for the BHF's Health at Work Programme, said: "Embarrassment shouldn't prevent people from being healthy at work.

"You don't have to don a lycra leotard to get fit and healthy, the payoffs from even simple changes like taking a walk at lunchtime are too great to ignore. Getting healthy during the working day means you are less stressed and better motivated."

The survey also found that 55 per cent spend more than half their working day sitting or standing still, while 48 per cent eat lunch at their desks.

Statistics show that the UK working week is around one and a half hours longer than the EU average.

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