Pune, April 10 (IANS): Drivers have a higher prevalence of diseases, including obesity and hypertension, in comparison to other working professionals, according to a study released on Friday.

It said drivers were also prone to increased blood pressure and higher levels of stress - factors that contribute to sickness and untimely death from heart and blood vessel problems.

The study was conducted by J.T. Obesity Solutions, an international centre of excellence for obesity and metabolic diseases. It was conducted on 1,670 bus drivers in the age group of 35 years and above at Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited.

"The reason behind it are that they get exposed to whole-body vibration, diesel exhaust, and noise while keeping themselves in a combat-like state of vigilance in order to deal with irritable passengers and crazy motorists," said the study.

"The survey also revealed that 27 percent of the drivers with abnormal metabolic age, indicating faster aging," said Jayashree Todkar, J.T. Obesity Solutions' director and secretary of Obesity Surgery Society of India.