EMPLOYERS are taking a negative attitude to overweight workers and, according to research from Benenden Healthcare, their colleagues tend to view them as unprofessional or lazy.

The research reveals about one in five workers believe employers have a role in helping staff lose weight by providing perks such as access to gyms, healthcare and diet advice.

More than 2.1 million say that in the last five years they know of someone who believed they were turned down for a job or promotion because of their size.

And 23 per cent believe people have a tendency to view the overweight as lazy or unprofessional with workers 16 to 34 most likely to take a negative attitude.