Poll reveals junk food habits, alcohol consumption and too much smoking.
People in the hospitality business eat more junk food and ready meals, smoke more cigarettes and drink more alcohol than any other profession, a national poll of Britain's workers has revealed.
Peter Lauris, sales and marketing director for healthcare company Medicash, which carried out the survey, urged people working in hospitality to reconsider their lifestyle.
"For those who work in a sector renowned for unsociable hours they must try to make a conscious effort to be healthy and invest in their health. Healthy people are more happy and productive," he said.
Chefs topped the unhealthy lifestyle chart, closely followed by farmers, smoking an average of 58 cigarettes per week and drinking eight alcoholic drinks.
Even more shockingly, the survey revealed that the nation's chefs eat an average of 12 snacks (crisps, chocolate bars or biscuits) each week, plus at least one ready meal or takeaway.
Mr Lauris said: "'It may be surprising to see chefs at the top of the list, since you would expect them to be in the know when it comes to preparing a nice, healthy meal.
‘'But in reality, it's probably the last thing they feel like doing when they get home from work. After spending the day in the kitchen, I imagine they simply want to put their feet up when they get in at night.
‘'So instead, this research shows that they are enjoying a diet of junk food and ready meals, and the cigarettes and alcohol on top of that are only adding to their health woes.''
But chefs shouldn't be judged too harshly, as the average Briton has 11 snacks and one ready meal or takeaway a week.
Travel agents came in at number ten on the list of the nation's unhealthiest professions, while teachers and people working in advertising were given the top spots for having the healthiest lifestyles.
Established in 1871 to help fund the voluntary hospitals of Liverpool, Medicash is one of the largest healthcare cash plan providers in the UK, offering health plans for companies and individuals.
www.medicash.org