Is Your Job to Blame for Your Health Woes?

Desk jobs may seem like one of the safest occupations in the work world, but research has found they may be to blame for a variety of health ailments afflicting workers across the nation.

Indianapolis, Ind. (PRWeb) March 14, 2007 -- Frequently suffer from severe headaches or back ache? Gain weight even though you haven't changed your diet or lifestyle? If so, your job may be taking its toll on your health.

"Researchers have linked desk jobs to increased incidence of back pain, eyestrain and even colon cancer," say Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., co-authors of the new book 175 Best Jobs Not Behind a Desk.

In addition, obesity also plagues many chair-bound workers across the nation. In fact, one study found that men who sit at their desk for more than six hours per day were almost twice as likely to be obese as men who sit for less than 45 minutes. Another survey found that women who worked at a sedentary job for 14 years gained 20 pounds more than women who worked in the least sedentary jobs.

For some, overcoming work-related ailments such as these will require little more than an extra hour or two of daily exercise or a few dietary changes. For others, a career change may be the only key to ensure good health and work satisfaction.

"Today's information-based economy depends heavily on office workers, but there are a lot of good jobs that let you be active and get out of the office," say Farr and Shatkin.

"Fortunately, there are plenty of high-activity jobs for people who prefer them. And these are not just menial jobs that are likely to be phased out as soon as someone invents the right kind of robot to do them. Many active jobs have good earnings and are expected to have good job opportunities. They allow you to use your brains as well as your muscles and involve the kinds of people and problems that can keep you interested in your work."

In their book, 175 Best Jobs Not Behind a Desk, Farr and Shatkin identify which active jobs are the best-paying, have the most openings, and are expected to grow substantially within the decade. They have selected the following occupations as the 10 best jobs overall for people who want to get out from behind a desk and be active.

The Top 10 Best Jobs Not Behind a Desk

1. Registered Nurses

Annual Earnings: $54,670

Percent Growth: 29.4 percent

Annual Openings: 229,000

2. Physical Therapists

Annual Earnings: $63,080

Percent Growth: 36.7 percent

Annual Openings: 13,000

3. Physician Assistants

Annual Earnings: $72,030

Percent Growth: 49.6 percent

Annual Openings: 10,000

4. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

Annual Earnings: $44,040

Percent Growth: 18.2 percent

Annual Openings: 203,000

5. Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Annual Earnings: $45,950

Percent Growth: 23.2 percent

Annual Openings: 17,000

6. Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

Annual Earnings: $42,230

Percent Growth: 22.4 percent

Annual Openings: 28,000

7. Occupational Therapists

Annual Earnings: $56,860

Percent Growth: 33.6 percent

Annual Openings: 7,000

8. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education

Annual Earnings: $46,060

Percent Growth: 14.4 percent

Annual Openings: 107,000

9. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Annual Earnings: $46,290

Percent Growth: 15.5 percent

Annual Openings: 47,000

10. Veterinarians

Annual Earnings: $68,910

Percent Growth: 17.4 percent

Annual Openings: 8,000

175 Best Jobs Not Behind a Desk is available at all major bookstores and from the publisher (www.jist.com or 1.800.648.JIST). To speak with the authors, contact Natalie Ostrom.

JIST, America's Career Publisher, is the leading publisher of job search, career, occupational information, life skills and character education books, workbooks, assessments, videos and software.

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