A recent study from the University of Jyväskylä has validated the concerns expressed by the public regarding the impact of reduced fitness in young people on their future ability to work. The study found that low cardiorespiratory fitness in youth is linked to a decline in work ability in adulthood, which has implications for societal costs throughout the working life. This confirms the validity of concerns about the long-term effects of decreased fitness in young people.
A study published in JAMA Network Open followed participants for 45 years, measuring their physical fitness in school between the ages of 12 and 19. The participants self-assessed their work ability twice during their working life, between the ages of 37 and 44, and then between the ages of 57 and 64. The study found that low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence was linked to decreased work ability and higher rates of absence due to illness in the middle of working life, as well as decreased work ability at the end of working life. However, low musculoskeletal fitness or high body mass was not found to be associated with these outcomes.The research indicates that there is a link between cardiorespiratory fitness in youth and the ability to work in adulthood. This is the first study to show this connection in both men and women. Previous studies in Sweden have also suggested that low fitness in youth can lead to chronic disability later in life.
Dr. Perttu Laakso, a doctoral researcher, expressed concern about these findings, stating that work ability is influenced by many factors. He also noted that the study participants, who were born in the 1960s, had higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in their youth compared to young people today. This makes the findings even more concerning.
“It is concerning that the risk of decreased work ability may be higher among adolescents today.”
Decreased work ability, sick leave, and early retirement are not only linked to lower quality of life for the individual, but also lead to a greater economic burden on society.
This study emphasizes the significance of assessing physical fitness in childhood and adolescence. Monitoring the physical fitness of young people can help identify those at high risk early on and put preventive measures in place.
In order to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, Laakso suggests that children and adolescents should be encouraged to engage in regular exercise.Adolescents and their families should focus on increasing their everyday physical activity. One consideration would be to increase the number of mandatory physical education classes in schools. Additionally, easier access to organized sports should be sought to prevent dropout from organized physical activity, which is common during adolescence.
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