A survey by British healthcare provider Medicash has found insurance is the fourth least-healthy profession in the UK.

The survey of the health and lifestyle choices of 3000 UK workers found insurance workers were healthier than chefs, farmers and electricians, but less healthy than builders, bankers, call centre workers and truck drivers.

Of the top offenders, chefs were found to smoke an average of 58 cigarettes and consume 12 snacks of chips, chocolate bars or biscuits a week.

Construction workers consumed the most alcohol of all professions, with an average of more than 10 alcoholic drinks a week. This was more than double the amount consumed by those in research and development, health, nursing and social services.

While insurance workers escaped attention for smoking, drinking and eating badly, they were found to take more days off sick than any other profession, claiming to have felt unwell more than 11 times in the past year.

Those named as the healthiest professions were advertising representatives, teachers, human resources assistants, accountants and lawyers.