A new study conducted by scientists at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen has found that high levels of physical activity in the workplace do not necessarily lead to better health outcomes. In fact, the study found that such activity can increase the risk of heart disease and mortality. The study, which was published in the European Heart Journal, analyzed health data from over 100,000 men and women between the ages of 20 and 100 who participated in the Copenhagen General Population Study between 2003 and 2014.
The study found that moderate physical activity, compared to low levels of activity, reduced the mortality rate by 26%, while high levels of physical activity reduced it by 41%. However, the study also found that individuals with high levels of physical activity in the workplace had a 13% higher risk of mortality and a 15% higher risk of acute cardiovascular events compared to those with low levels of activity. The study also found that the positive effects of exercise plateaued with increasing intensity, suggesting that there is a limit to the benefits of physical activity.
According to Andreas Holtermann, one of the study’s authors, many people with manual jobs believe that their work keeps them fit and healthy, but the study’s findings suggest that this is not necessarily the case. The study highlights the importance of balancing physical activity in both work and leisure time to achieve optimal health outcomes.
