Interventions Designed to Support Physical Activity and Disease Prevention for Working from Home: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Working from home (WfH) has public health implications including changes to physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). We reviewed published and grey literature for interventions designed to support PA or reduce SB in WfH contexts. From 1355 published and grey literature documents since 2010, we screened 136 eligible documents and extracted ten intervention studies. Interventions designed specifically for WfH were limited and included structured exercise programs, infrastructure (e.g., sit-stand workstations), online behavioral and educational programs, health professional advice and peer support, activity trackers and reminder prompts. Evidence of interventions to improve PA and reduce SB in WfH contexts is emergent but lacking in variety and in utilization of local environments to promote good health. Evidence is needed on the adaptation of existing workplace interventions for home environments and exploration of opportunities to support PA through alternative interventions, such as urban planning and recreational strategies.

Changes in Teleworking and Physical Activity Behaviors in the United States Before and After Emergence of COVID-19

“…A recent scoping review concluded that new evidence is needed to understand how these prepandemic workplace interventions can be translocated to the remote or hybrid work environment. 34 Several approaches have been offered for increasing PA and reducing sedentary behavior in these new work arrangements, including active workstations (eg, sit-stand desks), employee incentive programs (eg, gym memberships), activity trackers, screen time control devices, and computer-based prompts for movement. 29,34 Active People, Healthy Nation, SM an initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, promotes evidence-based strategies to increase PA across the population.…”

“…34 Several approaches have been offered for increasing PA and reducing sedentary behavior in these new work arrangements, including active workstations (eg, sit-stand desks), employee incentive programs (eg, gym memberships), activity trackers, screen time control devices, and computer-based prompts for movement. 29,34 Active People, Healthy Nation, SM an initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, promotes evidence-based strategies to increase PA across the population. Some of these strategies, such as community design interventions and social support, 35 could be used to support the PA of teleworkers.…”

“…Short and simple fitness programs in the workplace are associated with positive productivity and fiscal outcomes, 33 but this evidence base was established before the pandemic. A recent scoping review concluded that new evidence is needed to understand how these prepandemic workplace interventions can be translocated to the remote or hybrid work environment 34 . Several approaches have been offered for increasing PA and reducing sedentary behavior in these new work arrangements, including active workstations (eg, sit-stand desks), employee incentive programs (eg, gym memberships), activity trackers, screen time control devices, and computer-based prompts for movement 29,34 .…”