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Study shows that poor diet, lack of exercise hinders work productivity

Plugging through a day at work is difficult enough as it is, but being unable to remain focused throughout these eight hours makes small tasks become a much larger burden. It's no secret that eating well and exercising are very important for physical health, but the results of a recent study have indicated that being sedentary and making poor dietary decisions may have a negative effect on brain health.

The study, which will be published in the October issue of Population Health Management, used survey data from nearly 20,000 employees at three large companies in different locations, and the findings were rather significant.

According to a press release, respondents who weren't eating healthy food were 66 percent more likely to report that they were having issues with productivity than those who said they ate well-rounded meals that included fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Those who indicated that they only rarely exercised were 50 percent more likely to have trouble being productive than the employees who said they make an effort to stay fit. Additionally, smokers were 28 percent more likely to be unproductive than non-smokers.

"Total health-related employee productivity loss accounts for 77 percent of all such loss and costs employers two to three times more than annual healthcare expenses," Brigham Young University health sciences professor and lead author of the study Ray Merrill explained in the release.

In addition to incorporating nutritious foods into one's diet and doing regular exercise, there are a lot of ways to become more efficient on the job. Sian Beilock, author of "Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting it Right When You Have To," told Entrepreneur Media that even simply maintaining good posture can help keep workers on task throughout the day.

Perhaps the most efficient and effective way to improve brain function is by taking a focus supplement. For information about the products we offer that can support brain health, click here.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 13th, 2012 at 1:30 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.