Feeling time-strapped and desk-bound? You’re not the only one. The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that almost four million working Australians neglect to take a lunch break due to too much to do. But tucking into your midday meal at your desk isn’t a great idea for a plethora of reason. The top five are below.

1. You’ll eat more
   Eating in front of a screen means that you’ll be distracted from your munching which, according to The New York Times, leads directly to increased calorie consumption and weight gain. If you are preoccupied with a screen, your body and brain (specifically the hormone leptin) will be unable to properly process the amount of food you are consuming. This means you’ll be tucking into more food than you actually need to feel satisfied.
2. You’ll move less
   Similarly related to weight gain, eating lunch at your desk means you aren’t getting that extra 30-60 minutes of movement per day. Sedentary life isn’t a healthy one, in fact, it leads to increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol among more. Moving more also helps to prevent early onset musculoskeletal disorders (thanks to prolonged poor posture) and the likes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), caused by long periods of sitting.
3. You’ll become vitamin deficient
   According to Osteoporosis Australia, more than 30 per cent of adults have a mild to severe vitamin D deficiency. This means a great deal of the population is susceptible to bone and joint pain; a statistic that can be avoided by spending your lunch break outdoors. Just 10 minutes a day spent in the sunshine is one of the best sources of vitamin D. As an added bonus it’s a great way to lift moods, as it also triggers the release of serotonin in the brain.
4. Your diet may suffer
   Unless your meal prep game is strong, your work lunch (for the time limited in particularly) probably revolves around the convenience of what’s on offer to you within walking distance. It’s easy to fall into a routine, but eating the same lunch day-in-day-out, is not only rather dull but can be unhealthy if it limits you from indulging in a varied diet. According to the Victorian Government, eating a wide variety from each of the five food groups is integral for good health and the reduction of the risk of disease long-term.
5. Anxiety levels will rise
   Work can sometimes be stressful, but choosing to eat lunch at your desk can make it even more so. Exercise (and movement in general) helps the brain to produce more serotonin, relieving depression and reducing stress. So too does spending time in the great outdoors, or at least in a green-laden space nearby. Forgetting to take the time to let your mind recover can instead often lead to higher levels of anxiety, burnout and fatigue.