CareerBuilder.com has reported the results of a recent survey, “Work and Health 2006,” which indicate that nearly half of all workers have gained weight on the job.  Forty-six percent of workers report they have gained weight since starting their current jobs, one-in-five workers say they are more than 10 pounds heavier, and nearly one-in-ten workers have packed on more than 20 pounds.

Sadly, this didn’t come as a surprise to me.  Working for a PR firm in New York City right out of college, I found myself blowing up like a balloon and was powerless to stop the downward spiral.  There were simply too many dangerous factors at work, including stress, inactivity, and the tray of sweets that faithfully arrived in time for every client meeting.  At the time, it occurred to me that I had beaten the “Freshman 15” only to fall victim to the “Desk Job 15.”

Given that most of us won’t be trading in our office jobs anytime soon, how can we keep those extra pounds at bay?  Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources for Career Builder, suggests the following:

• Use your commute.  If you drive to work, park farther away from the office. If you use public transportation, get off the bus or train a stop or two early and walk the rest of the way.  
• Stock up on brown bags.  By packing your own lunches, you can control portions and lessen the strain on both your waistband and your wallet.
• Put in some face time.  Instead of relying on instant messaging or e-mail when you need to chat with a colleague, walk over and talk to them face-to-face.
• Only eat when you're hungry.  Many workers turn to food to ease boredom and stress. Keep a bottle of water at your desk to curb your urge to chow down.
• Snack smart.  Skip the vending machines and start packing healthier snacks like crackers or raw veggies.

If you have any on-the-job weight loss tips, please comment  They'll be greatly appreciated by me - and based on the results of this survey - by others as well!