In a Finnish study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, researchers followed 97 university employees who worked both from home and at their workplace. The participants wore a movement sensor for seven days.
This allowed the researchers to compare how much the participants moved on different working days.
Part of the difference can be explained by the absence of the commute to and from work. This is particularly true for people who normally walk or cycle to work. According to the researchers, however, commuting does not explain the entire difference.
Similar findings in Norway
A study from OsloMet involving just over 2,000 participants points in the same direction. In this study, participants answered questions about their physical activity themselves.
Also read: Fitness trainer gained 13 kilos in one month: Died weeks late
When participants went from working from home two or three days a week to four or five days, their overall activity levels fell by around 12 percent. The researchers also found no evidence that they engaged in more vigorous exercise.
According to Forskning.no, occupational health researcher Eirik Degerud from the National Institute of Occupational Health in Norway also points out that working from home can mean fewer natural breaks and poorer working postures.
Significantly more time spent sitting
The clearest difference comes from the Finnish study. On days when participants worked from home, they spent 44 minutes more sitting.
At the same time, they had 37 minutes less light activity and 21 minutes less moderate or vigorous activity.
Also read: These common food preservatives may be raising your blood pressure
The studies therefore indicate that working from home can result in significantly less movement during the working day.
Also read: Things you should know about the rabies vaccine
This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.