Mind & Mood

But she said workers with physical jobs who took the time to exercise too, would likely be fitter and better able to cope with the demands of the job — as well as having the longer-term benefit of reducing the risk of premature death.

Men versus women

The study’s link between higher physically demanding jobs and risk of death was only found in men, not women — who got the same benefit from workplace physical activity as they’d get from leisure activity.

Professor Straker thought there were two reasons why this might be the case.

“One is that the sorts of physically demanding, active jobs that women do may be different from the physically demanding jobs that men do,” he said.

“The second thing is that women have been shown to respond differently to different types of exercise than men.

“Our best guess is that it’s probably a combination of the two.”

I’m in a strenuous job. How do I lower my risk?

Both experts agreed that exercise as a leisure activity had health benefits — no matter how physically active you are for work.

They also both acknowledged that was the last thing people shattered from physically demanding jobs usually wanted to hear.

“It seems like a contradiction,” Professor Salmon said.

But she said workers with physical jobs who took the time to exercise too, would likely be fitter and better able to cope with the demands of the job — as well as having the longer-term benefit of reducing the risk of premature death.

“Because probably, what will happen is you will manage your job easier and find the job less stressful.”

But she recommended choosing a different type of activity to what you do in the workplace — something enjoyable and with a social element.