Are Desk Jobs to Blame for American Obesity?

We have become a nation of desk sitters. And it might be fueling the American obesity epidemic.

According to the CDC's latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, most Americans get little to no physical activity during their day jobs. Only 6.5 percent of U.S. adults meet "minimum physical activity guidelines" while at work, says the report. Although many Americans put in the effort to get exercise outside of their jobs, could the fact that most adults remain sedentary during their days be related to our nation's poor health outcomes?

A study recently published in PLoS ONE points to a correlation. The report clearly lays out the disappearance of jobs that require physical movement that has occurred between 1960 and today. Fewer than 20 percent of private sector jobs require "moderate" activity today -- a decrease of almost 30 percent since the early '60s. The study concludes that this translates to an average daily loss of 100 calories of energy expenditure -- a number that healthy individuals now need to make up in other parts of their day.

But how much of an impact do our jobs really have? Are increasingly sedentary U.S. jobs to blame for a rise in obesity? Do we need to get up and leave our desks? Or is this just shifting the blame away from poor eating habits?

We asked some of our readers and here's what they had to say:

Char S.
This is why i don't want to get a desk job ... maybe I'll go into forestry or law enforcement.

Claire K.
I'm not buying into this. Got off your butts before or after work. Most people CHOOSE to be lazy.

Mary T.
Knowing what I know today, I would opt for a job where I was AT LEAST on my feet. Even better if it was one that was truly active. Too late for that change today, but I've been trying to get out at lunch time for a good brisk 1/2 hour walk. I do workout every morning before work, but sitting on my duff all day means that it requires conscious effort to get up and move. So I do the stairs, visit someone across the hall instead of phone or e-mail, and take the long way to and from ladies room.

Shelly P.
Seriously? Any excuse not to take care of your body! I don't buy it. Nutrition is 80 to 90 percent of the health equation. Exercise is absolutely important and should be done daily, however, consuming foods that lack any noticeable nutrition is the main cause. McDonald's and Coca-Cola aren't helping.

Cathy H.
Excuses, excuses, excuses. What we are is a buck passing nation and have not figured out how to take responsibility for our actions.

Kimberly B.
It's not the job ... it's the people themselves. I work a desk job and I work out seven days a week. I'm a wife and a mother and I'm involved in volunteer work after my day job. I'm very busy and manage to get in 70 minutes of exercise a day. It's all about priorities.

Chris
Jobs are a big part of the problem. America has gone from a nation of laborers to a nation of desk jobs.

Jeanette L.
The problem isn't the job. I work behind a desk and I work out six days a week. I was born to do desk work.

Open Circles
I don't think our jobs are to BLAME for our obesity, but jobs certainly INFLUENCE our weight and health.

Karyn P.
I agree that we are less active during our work times, but people need to add activity into their day. Walk at lunch. Take the steps.