Navigating the Complex Relationship Between Exercise, Work, and Health
If you own a smartwatch, you’ve probably noticed hitting your daily step requirement at work. You’ve probably also noticed changes in your heart rate throughout your workday (“cardio”, “fat burn”, etc.)
A part of you celebrates these changes because you can’t believe how efficient you’re being by working out at work! And now, you’re home, completely exhausted from the day, unmotivated to work-out but comforted by the fact that you hit all your daily activity targets.
If this is you, Bart Cillekens would like your attention!
In this episode of the “Expert Series”, Bart delves into something known as the “physical activity paradox”, which challenges the notion that all forms of physical activity inherently result in improved health outcomes. He discusses how heavy physical labor can negatively impact worker health, despite them meeting activity goals.
Nuanced Approaches to Physical Activity
Excess physical activity does not necessarily lead to healthier outcomes. As Bart explains it, certain recommendations, like the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour are meant specifically for leisure-time physical activity.
These guidelines cannot be applied to occupational physical activity because they don’t take into account the stresses that come with work.
Bart’s research as a Ph.D candidate at Amsterdam UMC reveals that people who exert themselves physically at work feel unhealthier than those who don’t. For instance, cleaners in Denmark who managed to walk over 21,000 steps, twice over the daily recommendation, were exhausted and exhibited higher cardiovascular loads at the end of their shifts. In another instance, a majority of agricultural workers in Florida who engaged in a “moderate-level of physical activity” (146 minutes per day) were still either overweight or obese.
Workers who are physically active for a large part of their workday not only increase their risk of cardiovascular disease but musculoskeletal disorders as well. Understanding the scope and nature of a particular type of physical activity is crucial to addressing health outcomes.
Balance and Collaboration are Key
Does this mean that doing away with all types of work-related physical activity helps workers focus on their health? An “end-all” approach towards physical activity still doesn’t solve for the fact that some jobs will always be labour-intensive. Bart suggests collaborating with workers to come up with health interventions that benefit them.
These interventions need to take into consideration two things:
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Workload stress
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Psychosocial impacts that overworking can have on a person
A framework known as the “Goldilocks Principle” incorporates these to optimise the level of physical activity required by a job. This framework is also the focus of Bart’s workshop at the conference.
Inspired by The Three Bears, the Goldilocks Principle can help identify excessive or inadequate physical activity and design productive work that promotes health and physical capacity.
Learn more about this as well as Bart’s journey into occupational health and the physical activity paradox, on Navigating The Interplay between Physical Activity, Health, & Productivity available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you find your podcasts!
Navigating the Complex Relationship Between Exercise, Work, and Health
If you own a smartwatch, you’ve probably noticed hitting your daily step requirement at work. You’ve probably also noticed changes in your heart rate throughout your workday (“cardio”, “fat burn”, etc.)
A part of you celebrates these changes because you can’t believe how efficient you’re being by working out at work! And now, you’re home, completely exhausted from the day, unmotivated to work-out but comforted by the fact that you hit all your daily activity targets.
If this is you, Bart Cillekens would like your attention!
In this episode of the “Expert Series”, Bart delves into something known as the “physical activity paradox”, which challenges the notion that all forms of physical activity inherently result in improved health outcomes. He discusses how heavy physical labor can negatively impact worker health, despite them meeting activity goals.
Nuanced Approaches to Physical Activity
Excess physical activity does not necessarily lead to healthier outcomes. As Bart explains it, certain recommendations, like the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour are meant specifically for leisure-time physical activity.
These guidelines cannot be applied to occupational physical activity because they don’t take into account the stresses that come with work.
Bart’s research as a Ph.D candidate at Amsterdam UMC reveals that people who exert themselves physically at work feel unhealthier than those who don’t. For instance, cleaners in Denmark who managed to walk over 21,000 steps, twice over the daily recommendation, were exhausted and exhibited higher cardiovascular loads at the end of their shifts. In another instance, a majority of agricultural workers in Florida who engaged in a “moderate-level of physical activity” (146 minutes per day) were still either overweight or obese.
Workers who are physically active for a large part of their workday not only increase their risk of cardiovascular disease but musculoskeletal disorders as well. Understanding the scope and nature of a particular type of physical activity is crucial to addressing health outcomes.