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Comparison of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior between Work in Office and Work From Home: A Self-controlled
Ryo Tomonaga1, Yuya Watanabe, Ying Jiang
1From the Department of Health Development, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyusyu, Japan (R.T., Y.J., H.Y.); and Hitachi, Ltd, Hitachi Health Care Center, Hitachi, Japan (Y.W., T.N.).
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|April 8, 2024
Summary
Working from home significantly reduces physical activity and increases sedentary time compared to office work. This shift may have implications for employee health and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- The rise of remote work necessitates understanding its impact on employee physical activity and sedentary behavior.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the differences in daily movement patterns between office-based and home-based work environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively compare physical activity levels and sedentary behavior between office workers and remote workers.
- To explore the health implications associated with differing work environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized triaxial accelerometers to objectively measure physical activity in 94 white-collar employees.
- Data collection encompassed working hours, including commuting time for office-based workdays.
Main Results:
- Mean energy expenditure was substantially lower for work-from-home (228 kcal) compared to work-in-office (426 kcal) (P < 0.01).
- Sedentary time increased by an average of 20 minutes on work-from-home days, excluding commute time.
Conclusions:
- Working from home is associated with a significant decrease in physical activity.
- Remote work arrangements lead to increased sedentary behavior among employees, potentially impacting long-term health outcomes.
