The reason why people put on weight at work is that

W: In this morning’s Health Watch, gaining weight at work, according to a careerbuilder. According to a survey, more than half of people put on weight since they started their current jobs. For 20 percent of them, it’s 10 pounds or more. So how can we avoid that? Neal Pire is a fitness consultant and a fellow at the A-merican College of Sports Medicine. Good morning, Neal.
M: Good morning.
W: You are an exercise physiologist by training, right? So you can really tell us what we need to do here. Is this all about technology? Is there so much technology in our office that we don’t even bother to walk across the room to talk to our colleagues? Is that why we are gaining weight at our cubicles?
M: Well, there are probably multiple variables that are causing this whole phenomenon. Eh,(1)inactivity, obviously is the reason, why are we inactive? Over the last ten to twenty years, the faster and the more technology moves, the less we do. Where you used to get up, write a message and go to see your colleague all the way across the office, now you spend 30 seconds, you write an e-mail zip, it’s gone. You are onto the next thing. Eh,(1)so there are many reasons why we are less active even in the workplace. The problem is we live in such an all-or-none society, that if people don’t get 30 to 60 minutes of the formal exercises every day, they give up. So what’s the use? Why should I gain weight at work?
W: OK. So what are things people can do before or after work? You know, if they are trying to work as many hours as possible and also spend time with family and everything else, what things can they do to help them at least get some exercises?
M: You know, if you commute, the New York City, take the bus or the subway, get off the stop earlier before you are supposed to. That gives you a few extra blocks that you can walk. Eh, instead of,(2)if you are up on the 15th floor, I am not going to recommend you to take the stairs for 15 flights. But you can take the elevator to the 12 floor and walk up 3 flights.
W: You know I’ve seen people over the broadcast that actually have been doing that way, who use the stairs all the time, make a huge, huge difference.
M: Absolutely. It’s just a matter of getting you 2 minutes here and there. Overall, it adds up.
W: And what should you do at lunchtime? What about lunchtime?
M:(3)Eh, be sensible. If you are moving less, you really require less energy. And you require less calories if you will. So eat a little lighter, eat a little bit less, drink non-caloric fluids like water or even diet soda if you are a soda drinker. And let that help you fill up.
W: What about brown bagging?
M: Brown bagging is a great way to know how much you are eating and what you are eating. You go to the deliorder tuna because it’s healthy. You don’t know how much mayo is in there. If it was a tuna and oil, it’s huge: you can feed a family of four with a typical New York City deli sandwich.
W: Yes, so if you are brown bagging, you also, you know what you’ve got, right?(4)And you have chances, or you pull, you have a much better ability of portion control.
M: Absolutely.
W: Right. Eh, what about trying to exercise at your desk? You are always seeing these things about, you know, finger exercises and things and that’s not real.
M: Over the years, there have been lots of workstations, workout programs that you see in all the books and magazines. Eh,(5)the bottom line is a lot of people, who are not comfortably exercising at their desks as their manager might be watching.
W: So, you’re going to tend to(5)lose out or miss out on any activity you could do at your desk.
M: So just play solitarily.
W: Absolutely. Exercises after work should be fully used. What’s more, pay attention to our diet on the lunch. I believe we can avoid gaining weight at work. All right, Neal, thanks so much. We appreciate you being on the show.
M: Nice to see you.