Office employees have poor eyesight and hearing, reveal health checks

Based upon annual health checks carried out in most workplaces, results showed 73% wear glasses – some all the time and some just for computer work or reading and 52% have poor eyesight, whilst 33% are at least slightly deaf even though in most cases, it does not affect their ability to hold a conversation.

A total of 54% were clinically overweight, although not necessarily obese – a percentage which rises to 62% in men, but accounts for fewer than a third of women.

The average male office worker weigh between 77 and 85 kilos (12st 1.5lb and l3st 5lb) and stands between 1.75m and 1.8m (5'9” and 5'11”) tall.

Female desk workers average between 1.6m and 1.65m (5'3” and 5'5”) and typically weigh 55 to 70 kilos (8st 9lb and 11st), the lower end of which is an ideal weight for this height or even slightly below it.

This means the average worker is typically within the right weight range for his or her height.

About 13.6% had cholesterol readings which were too high, and only 46% had 'normal' blood-test results.

Over half admitted they drink alcohol, but just 5.7% do so every weekend and 4.7% most days.

A third of office workers smoke, which the survey said 'cost firms up to 2,000 euros a year' in lost man-hours – typically half an hour a day for nipping outside for a cigarette and four days a year more off sick than non-smokers.

But FREMAP conceded that with the EU's recommended 10 minutes per hour of getting up, moving around and being away from the computer required for optimum health, productivity and concentration levels, this half-hour a day outside in blocks of several minutes was actually beneficial to performance – even though the reason for it, to have a cigarette, is very bad for health.

Non-smokers are more likely to sit at their desks for longer, uninterrupted periods which can lead to lack of concentration, eye trouble, backache, joint pain and circulation problems – therefore, even though workers are recommended to give up smoking, those who do not go outside for a cigarette are encouraged to get up, move around and catch some fresh air anyway.

And those who suffer stress or depression are more likely to smoke than those who do not, which means the root cause of the four extra days off may not necessarily always be the smoking itself.

Time off for respiratory problems, such as bronchitis and chest infections, was more likely to be through smoking, however.

Male office workers smoke slightly more often than females – 33% compared to 29.2%.