Professionals drivers must take more exercise and improve their eating habits to extend their poor life expectancy.
The life expectancy of lorry drivers is much lower than other professions
Research by Loughborough University says that long distance driving is damaging to health because of the fragmented working hours and long periods of sitting.
According to the research, which was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), lorry drivers are more likely to be obese, develop diabetes and suffer from high blood pressure.
Stress is also a major problem, with tight schedules, busy roads and dealing with other aggressive drivers causing psychological damage and leading to sleep deprivation.
The combination of negative factors means that drivers have ‘significantly reduced life expect fancy’ compared to other jobs. The average age of HGV drivers is 53, and 84% are classed as obese. Drivers work on average 48 hours each - much higher than the national average.
Drivers are advised to take more exercise, perhaps using devices such as FitBit or those built into mobile phones (such as Apple’s Health) to track their activity - or lack of activity. They are also encouraged to make better eating choices and become more mindful of their sleeping patterns and mental wellbeing.