Workers in Scotland could be putting their heart health at risk due to the pressures of their job, according to a survey by the British Heart Foundation.
Employers have been urged to help their staff kick-start a healthier lifestyle during the charity’s Heart Month of February.
Obesity, lack of physical activity and smoking increase the risk of coronary heart disease, the nation’s single biggest killer.
Employers encouraging their workforce to take as little as 10 minutes every day to improve their health at work can lead to significant benefits in employee heart health and productivity.
Productivity loss as a result of heart and circulatory conditions is estimated to cost businesses £8 billion a year, but research shows that the vast majority of companies with employee wellness programmes benefit from reduced sickness absence and an increase in output.
The BHF survey revealed that more than one-in-three Scottish workers put on weight because of their job.
Nearly two-fifths of Scottish workers felt their job adversely affected their health in the last five years.
Almost half said their job had driven them to eat less healthily, and nearly two-fifths said they were taking less exercise.
Nearly a quarter said their job led to them to drink more alcohol, and one-in-10 said it has been a trigger for smoking more.
The pressures of work left people concerned about their long-term health, with more than a quarter fearing it could lead to a heart attack or heart condition.
The BHF is encouraging employers to join its Health at Work programme and run the 10 Minute Heart Month Challenge, starting next week.
Lisa Young of the BHF said: “This survey is a stark reminder of just what happens when we don’t take our health at work seriously enough. Millions of people say they are smoking more, exercising less and putting on weight because they’re not considering the impact their job is having on their health and wellbeing.
“We know that the payoffs of making health at work a top businesses priority are too great to ignore.”
The programme offers free resources and support to challenge workforces to make one small improvement to their lifestyle for 10 days during Heart Month.
For more infomration pay a visit to www.bhf.org.uk/health-at-work.business@thecourier.co.uk