Your long commute is adding inches to your waistline

By: Sean Dowling

If you're often caught in traffic coming to and from your nine to five grind, chances are it's showing up on the scale.

A new report by the Royal Society of Public Health, a London-based charity focused on health and wellbeing, suggests that a longer commute adds inches to your waistline.

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Commuting adds an average of nearly 800 extra calories to people's diets every week.

The fact that subway entrances are bombarded with junk food advertisements isn't helping.

Out of a poll of 1,500 workers, around 33% reported they snack more because of the commuter time crunch.

The report also shows traveling to and from work is linked to more stress, higher blood pressure and an increased body mass index because of reduced physical activity.

The commute to work is one of the least active periods of the day and those in London have it the worst, averaging 79 minutes to reach their workplace.

That puts London ahead of all U.S. cities, including New York, LA and Chicago.

The report includes recommendations to help fix the problem, ranging from tougher restrictions on unhealthy food and drink options in subway stations, promoting flexible and remote working hours if employers allow it or simply biking to work

Although, for many of those traveling miles to get to the office, this isn't realistic.

Maybe try combating the commuter calories with small steps, such as simply packing a salad to the office.

Related: Try out these healthy snacks to stay slim: