Abstract:
Background. In the context of urbanization and office work, an unbalanced diet with
increased consumption of processed foods affects both physical and mental health, being
associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and anxiety, and contributes to
reduced cognitive performance and work productivity.
Objective(s). Identification and evaluation of unhealthy eating patterns among office
employees, as well as a detailed analysis of their impact on physical, metabolic, and mental
health.
Materials and methods. A comprehensive analysis of scientific literature from the last 10
years (2014–2024) was conducted. From hundreds of studies published annually, the 20
most relevant observational studies, meta-analyses, and experimental research on nutrition
and unhealthy eating patterns were identified from PubMed, Scopus, and ResearchGate.
Results. Unhealthy dietary patterns were identified, such as excessive consumption of fast
food, sugary drinks, and high-calorie snacks (average 50%), low intake of fruits and
vegetables (~80%), predominant consumption of refined carbohydrates (70%), and
skipping breakfast (30%). The meta-analyzed studies highlight the association of these
patterns with the following consequences: obesity (36%), type 2 diabetes (27%),
hypertension (40%), anxiety (35%), and depression (30%). Evidence from PubMed, Scopus,
and ResearchGate confirms the negative impact of modern diets on office workers’ health
and the need for nutritional interventions.
Conclusion(s). An unbalanced nutritional regimen, combined with sedentary lifestyle and
work-related stress, promotes obesity, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and
worsens mental health disorders, leading to a significant decline in performance and
productivity at the workplace.
