A third of office workers would rather grab a few minutes extra
sleep than breakfast, according to a survey that estimated poor
eating habits were costing companies dearly in terms of lost
productivity.
A survey by Ipsos Mori found 17 percent of British office
workers either never have breakfast and 17 percent have it just one
to three times a week.
It found eight percent of 1,051 office staff questioned also
regularly skip lunch, with these poor eating habits estimated to be
costing companies 17 billion pounds ($34 billion) a year or 97
million lost working days.
"Worryingly, of those who rarely or never eat lunch, 27 percent
also never eat breakfast during the working week," said Ipsos Mori
researchers in a statement.
The survey, commissioned by food service company BaxterStorey,
estimated skipping breakfast cost companies 8.1 billion pounds or
46.5 million lost working days, with many studies finding a link
between eating breakfast and attention span, learning ability and
general well-being.
When other poor eating habits such as having no breakfast and
lunch or having no breakfast and snacks, are included, lost
productivity rocketed to nearly 17 billion pounds.
The survey found most employees -- 92 percent -- have lunch,
with 68 percent opting for sandwiches, but most people don't drink
enough during the day. Only 11 percent had the recommended eight or
more drinks during the working day.
"People who eat breakfast have better concentration, problem
solving ability, mental performance, memory and mood.
People who eat breakfast are also more physically energetic and
have better coordination," said Matt Barker, an independent
performance and nutrition specialist.
"Research tells us that scores on memory tests were about 15
percent lower in people who skipped breakfast. And those who skip
it tend to eat sugary, fatty foods later in the day, reducing their
productivity."
The figures for lost productivity were compiled using figures
and calculations supplied by the Office For National Statistics and
the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
(Agencies via China Daily December 3, 2007)
