Exploring the effects of physical exercise on blood biomarkers, psychological parameters, and work ability

BackgroundWorkplace settings are increasingly affected by public health issues that impact both physical and mental performance of employees.ObjectiveSince physical exercise (PE) is a powerful tool for enhancing health across multiple dimensions, we aimed to address the physical, and psychological aspects of health and well-being in the workplace to foster a supportive and conducive environment.MethodsThe present case control study was conducted in a metal industry in 2024 in Iran. The data were obtained among 500 workers. Blood parameters, the Health and Safety Executive job stress questionnaire, the NASA Task Load Index, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire, and the Work Ability Index were used to measure workers' health and well-being status. Independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were the main tests used in this study.ResultsThe results of clinical characteristics in the studied groups indicated that physical exercise significantly increased White Blood Cell (WBC) and platelet counts on one hand, and significantly decreased Body Mass Index (BMI), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), cholesterol, and triglyceride levels on the other hand (<i>p</i>-value < 0.05). Moreover, better psychological performance and work ability were observed among those who exercised regularly (<i>p</i>-value < 0.05).ConclusionOur findings indicate that regular PE is associated with improvements in BMI, WBC, FBS and lipid profile. Furthermore, PE positively influences occupational stress, cognitive performance, mental workload, and sleep quality. Finally, a holistic strategy for enhancing workplace health, incorporating modifiable health related behavior especially regular physical exercise initiatives, could be customized and implemented in workplaces.