London - If you’re battling an expanding waistline, it could be eating at work that is to blame.
A study found that those who regularly buy ready-made sandwiches or salads to eat at their desk are more likely to be obese.
This is because pre-prepared food contains more calories and fewer nutrients than meals we make ourselves, experts say.
The research, published in the International Journal of Obesity, looked at data from 8 314 adults in the US between 2005 and 2010. Those who ate six or more meals a week away from home – including lunch at their desk and dinner out – had the highest body mass index, higher cholesterol and low concentrations of vitamins C and E.
Professor Ashima Kant from Queens College, City University of New York, said that the trend was particularly noticeable among women and the over-50s.
On average, adults were found to eat out four times a week and ate fast food twice. - Daily Mail