Health education specialist DeVille Almond warns that truck drivers across the UK must improve their lifestyle or face serious consequences. A study undertaken by the company at motorway service stations indicates that 80% of male drivers are overweight and only 10% know their waist measurement.
Director Jane DeVille Almond says: "The results are a cause for concern because they indicate that there is a very high percentage of drivers on the road whose health makes them a potential hazard.
A waist measurement of 40 inches or more and a Body Mass Index of 30 or more can spell danger because both are indicators of a high risk of Type 2 diabetes, which in turn can trigger sleep apnoea."
The average age of drivers surveyed was 51 but on average they had the metabolism of someone two years older. Average height was 5ft 8in (177.5cm); average weight was 14.4 stone (91.6kg); and average waist was 40.5in. The survey also found that most had a high pulse rate and BMI.
The tests were welcomed by 99% of the drivers questioned; they said they would like regular health checks including blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, waist measurement and Body Mass Index (BMI).
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