Silke Jasso
Given America’s record obesity rate, it can be easy to blame lack of willpower or laziness on this epidemic. If you look at the numbers, though, Americans work more hours than many other people in the world. However, the sedentary nature of most of these jobs may be a contributing factor to the expansion of the nation’s waistline.
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Since 1960, the percentage of moderate activity jobs has decreased from 50 percent to 20 percent. In that same time frame, the obesity rate has risen from 13.4 percent to 35.7 percent, according to the National Institutes of Health. The journal PLOS ONE released a study in 2011 linking this decline in workplace activity to increased obesity.
RELATED: The world is your gym when you have one of the jobs that burns the most calories
Using data from the Compendium of Physical Activity, HealthGrove found the occupations that burn the fewest calories per hour. For the least calorie-burning occupations, the range of calories burned per hour for American males and females between the 25 and 75 weight percentiles as specified by the CDC is listed.
Note: The HealthGrove data team removed a small number of rare or obscure occupations from the raw dataset for the purposes of this article. You can find the full dataset in the Compendium of Physical Activity, as referenced above.
Operating a forklift or crane
Female average caloric burn: 160-225
Male average caloric burn: 195-260
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Postal carrier work
Female average caloric burn: 145-205
Male average caloric burn: 180-240
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Custodial work
Female average caloric burn: 145-205
Male average caloric burn: 180-240
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Bookbinding
Female average caloric burn: 145-205
Male average caloric burn: 180-240
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Truck driving
Female average caloric burn: 130-180
Male average caloric burn: 155-210
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Farming (cleaning animal sheds, preparing animal feed)
Female average caloric burn: 130-180
Male average caloric burn: 155-210
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Bakery work
Female average caloric burn: 130-180
Male average caloric burn: 155-210
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Shoe repair work
Female average caloric burn: 130-180
Male average caloric burn: 155-210
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Printing
Female average caloric burn: 130-180
Male average caloric burn: 155-210
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Property manager work
Female average caloric burn: 115-160
Male average caloric burn: 140-185
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Hairstylist
Female average caloric burn: 115-160
Male average caloric burn: 140-185
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Engineer work (mechanical or electrical)
Female average caloric burn: 115-160
Male average caloric burn: 140-185
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Tailoring
Female average caloric burn: 115-160
Male average caloric burn: 140-185
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Office work
Female average caloric burn: 95-135
Male average caloric burn: 120-155
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Police work
Female average caloric burn: 85-115
Male average caloric burn: 100-135
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