Workers cut down their lunch breaks to 22 minutes

THE average lunch break now lasts just 22 minutes – a third less than six years ago.

The research found that nearly one in five workers never leave their desk at lunchtime, despite warnings that sitting still for eight hours a day kills as many people globally as smoking.

Fitness experts said lunchtimes were being squeezed by work pressures, with figures showing the average has fallen from 33 minutes in 2012 to 22 minutes today.

The poll, by health body ukactive and Sodexo, a services company, found most workers wanted to exercise more, but three quarters said their workload got in the way. Just one in five reported cycling or walking to work.

However, 77 per cent said corporate gym memberships would have a positive impact on their physical and mental health, while almost as many said shower facilities and compulsory lunch breaks would boost their health.

People lose 18 days a year from consistently not taking their lunchbreak, the survey found. The reasons for missing their breaks included excessive workload, unexpected tasks and not enough variety of nearby dining options.

Steven Ward. the chief executive of ukactive, said: “These figures are a shocking indictment of modern workplace cultures, where employees increasingly find themselves tied to their desks and screens all day.

“Employers should heed these warn- ings if they want to encourage teams to be more productive.”

Research has found sitting for eight hours a day could increase the risk of premature death by up to 60 per cent.

The Lancet study found that one hour’s activity daily could offset the potential harm of a day spent at the desk.

But almost one in four adults in England fail to achieve even half an hour of activity a week. their