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When remote work became the norm rather than the exception, it was easy to focus on the perks: no commute, flexible hours, more autonomy. But as months turned into years, another transformation may have been happening in our bodies.
Working from home (WFH) isn’t just a lifestyle shift. It’s a physiological one. And emerging research is painting a more complicated picture of what happens when our daily movement, posture, light exposure, and social routines fundamentally change.
Related: What you need to know about sitting and spinal degeneration
1. You move less than you think
Before 2020, most people clocked thousands of incidental steps a day: walking to the train, climbing stairs, pacing between meetings. At home, these micro-movements aren’t as likely.
A 2022 systematic review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health analyzed multiple studies and found a 30% reduction in walking and a 34.7% decrease in total physical activity among WFH employees compared to those not working from home. The review also reported a 66.7% increase in sedentary behavior for WFH workers.
That drop in non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) may not seem like a big deal, but over time it adds up and could lead to subtle but significant changes in metabolic health. Research has shown that reduced movement has been linked to increased insulin resistance, higher visceral fat accumulation, and a rise in cardiovascular disease risk factors, even among people who work out regularly.
2. Your back and shoulders may ache more
Kitchen chairs. Couch work. Beds doubling as makeshift desks. The ergonomics of WFH aren’t exactly top of mind, but your musculoskeletal system could pay the price.
Chronic “tech neck”, shoulder, and lower back pain have surged since the pandemic. A 2023 study found that approximately 61% of remote workers reported new or worsened musculoskeletal issues, many tied to poor posture and static sitting positions. And it’s not just discomfort: Prolonged strain can lead to long-term degeneration of spinal discs, joint inflammation, and structural imbalances.
Related: Tech neck is an epidemic—here’s how to prevent it
3. More screens may mean more strain
Zoom fatigue isn’t just mental—it’s physical, too. According to Stanford University researchers, the dramatic increase in screen time during remote work has resulted in widespread physical complaints in remote workers, including eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes.
While these symptoms are usually temporary, some additional research notes that chronic overexposure to screens can lead to longer-term issues such as increased migraine frequency and disrupted sleep patterns due to circadian rhythm disturbance.
4. Sleep slips and stress may rise
The lines between work and home are blurrier than ever, and that mental spillover is reshaping our stress response.
Recent studies show that remote workers experience heightened loneliness, anxiety, and sleep disruption, all factors strongly associated with elevated cortisol levels, systemic inflammation, and increased cardiovascular risk. A systematic review published in 2025 found that social isolation and work-family conflict significantly predict higher stress levels among remote workers.
Prolonged stress and poor sleep patterns are also linked to brain structure changes in regions critical for mood regulation and memory, potentially increasing vulnerability to depression and cognitive decline over time. In addition, large-scale surveys point out that stress and emotional exhaustion remain very common among remote workers, correlating with reduced well-being and mental health challenges.
5. But there are health benefits if you prioritize them
Not all effects of WFH are negative. In fact, in some studies, many people report lower stress, more flexibility for exercise, and better control over their diets. For some, remote work enables healthier routines like morning walks, midday workouts, or home-cooked meals that were impossible with a commute.
The key is having an at-home setup that supports movement, ergonomic alignment, and psychological boundaries can actually improve health outcomes.
Why proactive screening matters
Most of the health effects tied to remote work are slow, cumulative, and silent. You won’t feel visceral fat increasing or notice the early stages of disc degeneration. That’s where Prenuvo may make a difference.
Prenuvo can help you visualize—and track—your body’s changes over time through detailed imaging. A whole body MRI offers a deep, non-invasive look at what’s happening beneath the surface, giving you a more comprehensive understanding of your current health. Routine checkups may only focus on surface-level stats like weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. However, Prenuvo’s advanced imaging is an addition to your routine checkup and can help screen for hundreds of conditions, all in under an hour.
And if you want to go even deeper, a Prenuvo Enhanced Screening can provide you with more health information, offering a detailed look at body composition, brain health, and key blood biomarkers tied to metabolism, hormones, inflammation, immune function, and more.
To learn more about the benefits of whole body MRI and/or Enhanced Screening, book a call with a member of our team.
