JOEM: Impact of shifting from office work to telework on workers’ physical health: a longitudinal study (May 2024)-Impact of shifting from office work to telework on workers’ physical health: a longitudinal study

Impact of shifting from office work to telework on workers’ physical health: a longitudinal study

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The document discusses a longitudinal study that analyzes the impact of teleworking on the physical health of Japanese workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that male workers who teleworked more frequently experienced worsened physical health outcomes compared to those who worked in the office. This included deleterious changes in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, liver function, antilipidemic drug use, and metabolic syndrome risk among men. However, no significant changes were observed in women. The shift to teleworking during the pandemic led to reduced physical activity, potentially due to decreased commuting-associated activity, and unhealthy lifestyle habits like increased snacking. The study highlights the importance of promoting physical activity and healthy habits for teleworkers to maintain their health. Despite limitations such as the focus on one company's workers and a small proportion of women in the study, the use of objective health examination data and a longitudinal study design provided valuable insights into the health effects of telework. The findings suggest the need for supportive measures to ensure the well-being of workers who engage in teleworking, particularly in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits.

Keywords

teleworking impact

physical health

Japanese workers

COVID-19 pandemic

male workers

blood pressure

cholesterol levels

metabolic syndrome risk

physical activity

healthy habits