IT contractors who regularly work through their lunch hour could be damaging their health, it has been claimed.

The end of the traditional lunch hour is not good for workers' physical or mental well-being, according to the Men's Health Forum (MHF).

IT contractors may be inclined to work longer hours in order to complete projects on time, but the MHF chief executive Peter Baker says employees are likely to be more productive after a break.

Research recently published in the journal Heart established that men with low physical fitness will increase their risk of developing heart disease by working long hours.

Mr Baker says that this is a troublesome issue, as working longer hours naturally leads to lower physical fitness.

"This research is worrying because too many men work long hours and often have very little choice about it," he said.