Working long hours, or just at work a lot?

A survey of 2,000 adults from LA Fitness published this week showed that almost half blamed long hours at work for them failing to turn up at the gym as often as they would like to. The report claimed that the results provided a further indication that the UK was turning into a "stressed out and obese" nation.

A commitment to improve fitness is now one of the most commonly pledged New Year's resolutions, but like many others - it tends not to last too long.

According to the Fitness Industry Association, by February around 30% of new members will fail to turn up to the gym even once a week, with almost half ultimately cancelling their membership altogether. The industry has estimated that members waste around £200m each year in gym fees.

Psychologist Mo Shapiro claimed that people faced a "psychological barrier" to exercise by believing they did not have enough time to keep fit because of work and family commitments.

Unhealthy 'overworking'

Last week union leaders claimed that Britons continued to work longer hours than their European counterparts and blamed so-called "overwork" for spiralling sickness absence rates, poor productivity and increased levels of stress, especially among white-collar workers.

A TUC spokesman said: "Long hours are a very real hazard. Working excessive hours increases the risk of injury and mortality, heart disease, stress, depression, diabetes mellitus, serious headaches and bowel problems.

"Excessive hours are likely to lead to increased smoking and drinking and to a poor diet. They also squeeze the time available for family life, which can undermine general well-being."

The TUC claimed that although there were "small signs" that the situation was improving, British workers still put in £23 billion of unpaid overtime last year, with those "working for nothing" doing an average of seven hours and six minutes extra work every week.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "We do not want to turn Britain into a nation of clock watchers, and few mind putting in extra effort from time to time when it is needed, but it is too easy for extra time to get taken for granted and then expected every week."

Wasting time?

However, a separate poll published this week suggested that although people were spending more time at work, many hours were being wasted through surfing the internet, chatting and making cups of tea!

According to research for computer giant Microsoft, the average working day was now 8.37am to 5.37pm rather than the traditional 9 to 5.

But the study revealed that workers were unproductive for around three hours a day, spending 54 minutes on the internet, 35 minutes chatting to colleagues, 14 minutes in the loo and 17 minutes making tea. A further 46 minutes were spent printing out documents or sorting out computer problems, it was claimed.

Organisational psychologist Professor Cary Cooper, of Lancaster University, said: "With so many distractions in the modern office it is not surprising that our minds wander."

The survey of 1,000 office workers also found that people spent an average of 18 minutes a day staring out of the window! Time better spent at the gym perhaps?

What do you think? Do long hours result from excessive demands from employers, or poor time management? Do people lack the time to stay fit and healthy? Use the feedback link above/right and let us know your thoughts.