Office workers beware! A glimpse into an unhealthy future

Office workers risk developing a range of physical and mental health issues over the next 20 years if workplace conditions don't change.

That's according to research commissioned by office supplies company Fellowes.

This unhealthy-looking dummy model could be the end result...

Her name's Emma - and what office workers could look like in the next 20 years.

She was modelled by Will Higham - a behavioural futurist who predicts future human activity

(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESEARCHER WHO MODELLED "EMMA'S" HEALTH PROBLEMS, WILL HIGHAM, SAYING:

"Emma has a permanently bent back now because of the way she's been sitting at her work station, she has her legs, the muscles in her legs are much weaker, she has varicose veins because of blood flow which is not as good as it was, her eyes are redder and drier because of the atmosphere in the air, again because of the quality of the air."

3,000 people in France, Germany and Britain took part in the study.

It found more than a third of British office workers spend seven to nine hours a day sitting at a desk.

To avoid such drastic health issues Higham recommends employees do a lot less of that.

And for employers to do their part, too.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESEARCHER WHO MODELLED "EMMA'S" HEALTH PROBLEMS, WILL HIGHAM, SAYING:

"Employers can do a lot more in the workplace. If they can design buildings so that there are actually more spaces for people to take breaks in, if there are different types of desks, different types of work stations within that. We need to encourage more "walk and talk" meetings."

A warning, then, to workers and employees to get healthy...

Or else face Emma as their future.