RESEARCH: Work from home has given rise to a new epidemic
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GUEST - Motshabi Nomvethe, Head of Technical Marketing, Professional Provident Society
IS SITTING THE NEW HEALTH EPIDEMIC?
For many people, work means hours and hours of sitting, with few opportunities to take a break or go for a walk. According to Yale Medicine, while this may be a normal part of adult life, it is becoming a growing concern among researchers1. What’s more is that since the COVID-19 pandemic, some research estimates that the shift to remote working has aged our bodies by about 10 to 15 years, with negative impact ranging from eye strain to back pain. Ergonomically, remote work has resulted in many people working from a kitchen table, on the couch, in bed or in a space that might be damaging to their posture.
New studies have also found that people who work remotely are spending the time they used to use travelling to and from work, to work even more3. Researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimate that people who work from home now use 40% of the time they save on commuting to do added work.
What’s more, the Royal Society for Public Health found that many people who switched to remote working as a result of COVID-19 were exercising less, developing musculoskeletal problems and experiencing disturbed sleep.
Jobs that require long periods of sitting, lack of exercise and dependence on technology and devices have all added to people becoming far more sedentary than in previous decades, with many of us spending hours of our days sitting. In fact, it is estimated that one-third of the global population aged 15 years and older engages in insufficient physical activities, which affects our health5. Research from the British Heart Foundation found that much of the British population spend around 67 hours a week sitting down, making them inactive for up to three out of seven days.
IS SITTING THE NEW HEALTH EPIDEMIC?
For many people, work means hours and hours of sitting, with few opportunities to take a break or go for a walk. According to Yale Medicine, while this may be a normal part of adult life, it is becoming a growing concern among researchers1. What’s more is that since the COVID-19 pandemic, some research estimates that the shift to remote working has aged our bodies by about 10 to 15 years, with negative impact ranging from eye strain to back pain. Ergonomically, remote work has resulted in many people working from a kitchen table, on the couch, in bed or in a space that might be damaging to their posture.
New studies have also found that people who work remotely are spending the time they used to use travelling to and from work, to work even more3. Researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimate that people who work from home now use 40% of the time they save on commuting to do added work.
What’s more, the Royal Society for Public Health found that many people who switched to remote working as a result of COVID-19 were exercising less, developing musculoskeletal problems and experiencing disturbed sleep.
Jobs that require long periods of sitting, lack of exercise and dependence on technology and devices have all added to people becoming far more sedentary than in previous decades, with many of us spending hours of our days sitting. In fact, it is estimated that one-third of the global population aged 15 years and older engages in insufficient physical activities, which affects our health5. Research from the British Heart Foundation found that much of the British population spend around 67 hours a week sitting down, making them inactive for up to three out of seven days.
