More than half of (54%) people polled in a survey said they had put on weight by scoffing on fattening snacks at their computer rather than taking a proper break and eating healthier food.
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Sadly, the results show that a traditional lunch hour is as obsolete a pastime as riding a penny farthing to work - just 18% of people take a 'proper' lunch break, compared to 85% a decade ago.
Almost half of respondents (47%) said they were more likely to eat junk food at their desks than elsewhere.
And 62% said they regularly ate chocolate or crisps or soft drinks from office snack machines - despite wishing they hadn't afterwards.
In a typical working day, one third of those polled ate more than 1,200 calories - a combination of coffee, tea, soft drinks and vending machine snacks.
How To Stay Fit At Work
5 Ways To Keep Fit At Your Desk(01 of06)
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(credit:Alamy)
Overhead Press: Sculpted Shoulders(02 of06)
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For this you'll need to raid the stationery cupboard. Sitting on your chair, hold a ream of copy paper with both hands. With your elbows bent, extend your arms overhead and lower to shoulder height. Repeat 10 to 20 times. Keep your arms in front of your head on extension and don't lock your elbows. (credit:Alamy)
Bicep Curls: Buff Biceps(03 of06)
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You will need two 600ml water bottles (filled). Sit on the edge of your chair with your abs in tight and spine straight. With a bottle in each hand, curl them towards your shoulder and slowly lower down. Repeat 10 to 20 times. Move slowly with your elbows close to your sides and control the upward and downward motion. (credit:Alamy)
Seated Ab Crunches: Flat Stomach(04 of06)
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Sit on the edge of your chair with your arms extended out in front of you. Keeping your back straight, contract your abs and slowly lower your torso towards the back of chair, making sure to keep back straight. Hold for five to10 seconds and repeat three times. (credit:Alamy)
Chair Squats: Buns Of Steel(05 of06)
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Begin sitting on your chair and clench your butt cheeks together. Lift your bottom off the chair and hover over the chair in a squat position for 10 to 15 seconds then stand up and repeat two to three times. (credit:Alamy)
Tricep Dips: Banished Bingo Wings(06 of06)
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Sit upright and place your hands on your chair hip-width apart with your fingers pointing forward. Place your feet firmly on the floor. Slide your glutes off the chair with your elbows slightly bent. Lower your body by bending at the elbows until they are at 90-degree angle. Return to start position and repeat 10 to15 times. (credit:Alamy)
"The whole way we work is changing so fast," says Lee Smith, managing director of Forza Supplements, who funded the study. “Gone are the days when we would go out for lunch and socialise with workmates."
"Unfortunately that is very bad news for diets because we haven't got the time to seek out healthier, less calorific foods. We are bingeing on crisps, chocolates and cans of coke. People are giving themselves these treats as reward when they do something well at work or to break up the daily routine."