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Impact of remote work on physical activity

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2026-09-22 04:52 UTC → 2026-10-07 19:16 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Research conducted in ~~Finland~~ Finland, Norway, and ~~Norway~~ through a 2025 meta-analysis indicates that remote and hybrid work models are associated with increased sedentary behavior and decreased physical activity. A study from the University of ~~Turku~~ Turku, part of the WORKDAY project, found that while remote work days allowed participants to sleep an average of 15 minutes more, it also resulted in an additional 45 minutes of sitting or lying down. ~~This decline~~ Using thigh-worn accelerometers, researchers observed a decrease in ~~movement is attributed~~ standing time, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous exercise, attributing this to the loss of incidental ~~activities, such as~~ activities like commuting or walking within an office. Supporting these findings, a Norwegian study of over 2,000 participants showed that increasing home office days to four or five per week led to an approximately 12 percent drop in overall activity levels. Researcher Eirik Degerud noted that while movement decreases, the reduction might indicate “better concentration and peace for work” when at home. A meta-analysis of 38 studies suggests these shifts may impact body weight by altering Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT). The analysis found that remote workers spend an average of 31 minutes more sitting during the workday and take approximately 2,564 fewer steps per day than in-person employees. This suggests that even individuals with regular gym routines may experience a decrease in total daily physical activity due to the loss of incidental movements such as walking to meetings or using stairs.

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