​A British Heart Foundation survey finds 50% of Scots claim their job has driven them to eat more unhealthily

Scots workers are getting fat because they are too stressed by their job to eat properly and exercise, a charity survey has claimed.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) research found 37% of Scots in employment say they think they have put on weight because of their work, with almost half saying their job has driven them to eat more unhealthily.

Nearly two-fifths say their work has caused them to exercise less than they would like, 23% say their job has led to them to drink more alcohol and one in 10 say it’s been a trigger for smoking more

The charity warned it is not just expanding waistlines workers risk if they don’t make changes - their health is at trisk too.

The BHF is urging employers to help workers kick-start a healthier lifestyle during Heart Month by allowing them 10 minutes a day to do something that will improve their lifestyle.

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

It estimates productivity loss as a result of heart and circulatory conditions costs businesses £8billion a year.

Stress, suggests BHF, may come from staff working long hours – 59% of survey respondents said they regularly do unpaid overtime, and over one in six work more than five hours overtime a week.

Over 9,500 organisations have already signed up to the BHF Health at Work programme, which offers free advice to employers on ways they can help their workers.

Lisa Young, project manager for the programme, 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.

“Behaviours like these can be extremely damaging, not just to your heart health but also to businesses. From working with over with 9,500 organisations we know that the payoffs of making health at work a top businesses priority are too great to ignore."

To sign up for the British Heart Foundation’s Health at Work 10 Minute Challenge, visit bhf.org.uk/health-at-work