1. A study conducted in South Korea has confirmed the “physical activity paradox” in relation to health-related productivity loss and work ability, showing that leisure-time physical activity can benefit health while occupational physical activity can be harmful.
2. The study analyzed 5,501 Korean workers and found that excessive physical strain from occupational activities can worsen health and decrease work ability and productivity, while leisure-time physical activity can improve physical and mental health.
3. For workers over the age of 60, those who engage in more occupational physical activity experience poorer work ability and significantly higher health-related productivity loss when engaging in leisure-time physical activity.
A recent study conducted by Professor Mo-yeol Kang and his team at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, has shed light on the paradoxical relationship between physical activity and work ability. The study analyzed 5,501 Korean workers and found that while leisure-time physical activity, such as exercise, is beneficial for health, occupational physical activity can actually be harmful to health. This paradox has been reported several times before, but this study is the first to examine the correlation between health-related productivity loss and work ability.
According to Professor Kang, leisure-time physical activity can enhance physical and mental health, thus improving work ability and labor productivity. However, excessive physical burden in the workplace can worsen health, ultimately leading to a decrease in work ability and labor productivity. This finding highlights the importance of finding a balance between physical activity at work and during leisure time.
Interestingly, the study also found that for workers over the age of 60 who engage in a lot of occupational physical activity, increasing leisure-time physical activity actually decreases work ability and significantly increases health-related productivity loss. This suggests that older workers who already experience physical strain at work may not benefit from additional physical activity during their free time.
The World Health Organization defines high levels of physical activity as exceeding 600 MET-min/week, equivalent to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Professor Kang suggests that older workers who experience significant physical burden in the workplace may not need to engage in additional physical activity during their leisure time.
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insight into the paradoxical relationship between physical activity and work ability. It emphasizes the need to consider the type and intensity of physical activity in both the workplace and leisure time, especially for older workers who may already experience physical strain at work. Engaging in appropriate levels of physical activity can enhance health and work ability, while excessive physical burden can lead to decreased work ability and productivity. It is important to strike a balance to ensure overall well-being and productivity in the workplace.
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