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A new study finds work quality and quantity both show significant improvement when workers are more active and physically fit.

The study, led by Minneapolis-based Health Partners researcher Nicolaas Pronk, was published in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. It analyzed health and lifestyle factors in 683 workers in various occupations. Researchers compared levels of physical activity, fitness and obesity with indicators of job performance rated by the workers themselves. Not only did physical activity and fitness have a significant impact on work performance, but workers who were more physically fit needed to put out less effort to do their work. Obesity had a negative impact, and about a fifth of workers in the study fit that description. They reported having more difficulty getting along with co-workers, and those who were "severely obese" (4.5%) missed many more days of work. Concluded the researchers, "Lifestyle-related, modifiable health risk factors significantly impact employee work performance."

# posted by Medical Information : 3:06 AM