Overweight British bosses live up to 'fat cat' tag

Britain's bosses and managers are overweight, over-stressed and putting their health at risk by gorging on fatty snacks such as crisps and chocolate, according to a new survey.

Almost half (47 per cent) of the business leaders questioned admitted to being overweight and 55 per cent said they do not get enough exercise.

The bad dietary and exercise patterns are made worse by the stressful nature of their job, according to the research by catering company Avenance.

When the pressure is on 53 per cent skip meals and a third get by on caffeine, while 20 per cent work more than 55 hours a week and 37 per cent get less than six hours sleep a day.

Snacking also appears to be a weaker spots for UK bosses with 62 per cent tucking into crisps, chocolates, cakes and biscuits, while over three-quarters don't eat the government's recommended five portions of fruit or vegetables a day.

Apart from putting their own health at risk, the research claims these 'fat cat' bad habits can also have a negative effect on their company, although 70 per cent of bosses said the business would probably just carry on as usual if they were to suffer a health scare.

Mike Audis, CEO of Avenance, said in a statement: "Business leaders need to take their heads out of the sand and accept that their health has serious implications on their own work and the fortunes of their companies. If business leaders are fatigued, under-exercised and in some cases malnourished, they are not in the best position to make multi-million-pound business decisions."

Tips for Britain's execs worried about succumbing to the temptations of the festive season include drinking a glass of water with every glass of alcohol, leaving the bread roll, going easy on the roast vegetables and burning off the calories by walking back to the office.

The research questioned 500 senior business leaders in head of functions roles or higher in the UK.