Nearly half (48%) of people working in professional services have ditched their diets at least once this year after being led astray by chocolate and sweet treats in the workplace, according to statistics released by the British Heart Foundation (BHF)
Of the 2,000 people surveyed, around two fifths (39%) of those working in professional services admitted to eating chocolate at least every other day during the working week. A third (36%) claimed they are unable to make it through the working day without consuming chocolate.
The professional industries ranked third for the top chocolate consumers with the education and IT sectors coming up top reporting half (47%) of staff eat chocolate every other day.
Half of professional service workers admitted that chocolate is always available in the office, rising to two thirds (66%) for people in finance and over 60% in the healthcare industry.
The BHF is calling for companies across the UK to give up its chocolate treats for March and get sponsored to raise money for research into heart disease,
Tracy Parker, heart health dietician at the BHF, said: ‘It’s no secret that we’re a nation of chocoholics. While its fine to treat yourself now and again, this survey shows just how much our workplace “cake culture” is helping feed our sugary habit, even tempting people to ditch their healthy diets.
‘By challenging yourself and your colleagues to a DECHOX this March you can help eliminate temptation whilst raising funds for our life saving research. By ditching chocolate, you can kick start some healthier habits, and help fund the breakthroughs that will see us beat heart disease for good.’
