Comparison of physical activity and sedentary behavior between work-in-office and work-from-home: a self-controlled study

Abstract

Abstract Objective To compare physical activity levels and sedentary behavior between individuals working in the office and those working from home, with the aim of elucidating the potential implications on employees' health. Methods We used triaxial accelerometers to assess the physical activity levels of 94 white-collar employees from a large-scale manufacturing company in Japan. They were instructed to wear the accelerometers during their working hours, which included the commuting time on work-in-office days. Results The mean energy expenditure on work-in-office was 426 kcal for individuals, while it was 228 kcal on work-from-home (p < 0.01). Additionally, not including commuting, the time spent sedentary on work-from-home days was higher than that on work-in-office days by 20 minutes. Conclusion Work-from-home decreases physical activity and increases sedentary time compared to work-in-office.