The constant supply of sugary treats such as cake, pastries and biscuits is becoming a serious health threat to office workers.
A recent report suggests that the Cake culture inside the workplace is fuelling obesity, while also becoming a huge factor in poor oral health. Professor Nigel Hunt, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, is urging employers and workers to abandon the practice of offering biscuits during meetings in an effort to block the tradition that leads to workers' teeth getting damaged by sugar content.
"Managers want to reward staff for their efforts, colleagues want to celebrate special occasions, and workers want to bring back a gift from their holidays," Hunt said during a speech to the Faculty of Dental Surgery's annual dinner.
"But for many people the workplace is now the primary site of their sugar intake and is contributing to the current obesity epidemic and poor oral health. It is particularly dangerous that this is lying around the office all day for as we know, sugar has a particularly negative effect if it's eaten outside of meal time."
Hunt also addressed that the ongoing trend of Cake culture poses a threat to those people who are battling weight loss and who wants to shed pounds after the holiday season. Although self-control is imperative when it comes to dieting, Hunt acknowledges that the real struggle arises when we cave in to the temptation of donuts, cookies and other comfort foods.
In the US, the latest reports show that 40 percent of US women are obese and teenagers are also continuing to gain weight. Findings in the report claim that men who smoked were thinner. In the case of women, it states that those who were able to attain an education beyond high school were significantly less likely to be obese.
To stop the obesity epidemic, Hunt suggests that a change in culture is needed. For example, people should be mindful of the portions when they buy desserts outside. Inside the office, people should start adapting an alternative round of snacks such as fruit platters, nuts or cheese - Hunt said.
