A Finnish study suggests that working from home can be harmful to health by making people more sedentary. The research, conducted by the University of Turku, monitored 97 hybrid employees from the university itself for an entire week using sensors attached to their thighs to record their movements.
The results, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, revealed that on days when they worked remotely, participants sat 44 minutes more and exercised 58 minutes less compared to in-office days.
The study found that the time volunteers typically spent standing and cycling, probably during their commute to work, was replaced by sedentary behavior and additional time in bed.
The Finnish researchers concluded that although remote work offers more comfort, it can have negative health consequences for hybrid workers, who lose the physical activity normally associated with the daily commute.
