Herbalife, a worldwide nutrition company, has found some differences in the health outlooks and routines of working men and women in Singapore. Their Nutrition at Work survey showed that, compared to men, women in Singapore tend to stay at their desks longer, eat lunch at their desks more, and have more difficulty being active during a typical workday.
“Our aim as a global nutrition company is to provide members and customers with high-quality nutrition products that support healthy eating and active lifestyles,” said Dr. Luigi Gratton, Herbalife’s Vice President of Worldwide Nutrition Education. “These survey results highlight the increasing need to motivate positive nutrition habits and healthy, active living among working women in Singapore to foster a healthier workforce.”
Here are some of the main findings:
Nine out of 10 women in Singapore work at their desks for over six hours each day, while eight out of 10 men do the same, indicating that women are more likely to remain at their desks for longer periods during the workday.
Thirty-four percent of women get more than 30 minutes of exercise during the workday—the recommended amount of moderate physical activity suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO)—compared to 42% of men.
Committed to encouraging healthy, active lifestyles for both genders, Herbalife’s survey uncovered significant differences in exercise and eating habits between men and women, revealing that:
Thirteen percent of working women in Singapore exercise more than three times per week, which is less than the Asia Pacific average of 15%.
Twenty-two percent of working men in Singapore exercise more than three times a week, slightly higher than the Asia Pacific average of 20%.
Forty-four percent of Singaporean women have lunch at their desks at least twice weekly, compared to 38% of men.
When compared to the Asia Pacific average, which found that 58% of women and 50% of men eat lunch at their desks more than twice a week, the results show:
Singaporean workers generally have sedentary lifestyles but understand the importance of leaving their desks for physical activity.
Eighty-one percent of women and 74% of men in Singapore see weight gain as a major health concern—higher than the regional average of 77% for women and 71% for men.
Two-thirds of men and women in Singapore are actively trying to live healthy, active lives, with over six in 10 men and women reporting that they would be more motivated to stay active if physical activity were integrated into their company culture.
In summary, while those surveyed understand the value of a healthy, active lifestyle, they also place significant importance on the role of workplace culture in achieving this lifestyle.
Herbalife’s Nutrition At Work survey was conducted in March 2016, and included 5,500 participants aged 18 and above from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
All images from Herbalife infographic.