Dr. Aviroop Biswas
Dr. Aviroop Biswas is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. He is also an assistant professor in epidemiology at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
Biswas obtained his PhD in health services research at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. During his PhD studies, he received a doctoral research fellowship from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and was a past recipient of the University of Toronto’s Ted Goldberg award for academic excellence and promise in health services research. Biswas was previously a Mustard post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Work & Health (2017-2019).
Biswas’s research at the Institute aspires to improve the sustainability of employment and the prevention of future worker injury and chronic disease by informing health promotion activities related to healthy physical activity and worker wellbeing. His recent research projects include examining how different workers’ daily activity profiles are associated with their risk of chronic disease, understanding how workplace wellbeing champions can support engagement and participation among their colleagues, and how different work arrangements (including telework) shape work-life balance and wellbeing. His studies have primarily involved the analysis of survey and administrative data, machine learning, as well as systematic reviews.
“Worker health goes beyond simply thinking about protecting workers from the hazards of work. Unhealthy living not only increases the risk of preventable disease, but is also a major cause of workplace absence and injury. The challenge is to convince employers that the health and well-being of workers is in the best interests of the workplace to promote.” – Dr. Avi Biswas
Projects
- Using decision-tree machine learning to identify worker movement typologies . Completed. (PI on the project)
Publications
- Biswas A, Gilbert-Ouimet M, Mustard C, Glazier RH, Smith PM. Combined associations of work and leisure time physical activity on incident diabetes risk. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2021;60(3):e149-e158. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2020.09.017.
- Biswas A. Occupational physical activity as a target for obesity prevention: a lack of effect or a lack of evidence?. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2021;78(3):145-146. doi:10.1136/oemed-2020-107266.
- Biswas A, Begum M, Van Eerd D, Smith PM, Gignac MA. Organizational perspectives on how to successfully integrate health promotion activities into occupational health and safety. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2021;63(4):270-284. doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002087.
- Prince SA, Roberts KC, Reed JL, Biswas A, Colley RC, Thompson W. Daily physical activity and sedentary behaviour across occupational classifications in Canadian adults. Health Reports. 2020;31(9):13-26. doi:10.25318/82-003-x202000900002-eng.
- Biswas A, Dobson KG , Gignac MA, de Oliveira C, Smith PM. Changes in work factors and concurrent changes in leisure time physical activity: a 12-year longitudinal analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2020;77(5):309-315. doi:10.1136/oemed-2019-106158.
Speaker Series presentations
- Do workplace facilities and health promotion programs help workers be physically active?. IWH Speaker Series. November 7, 2017.
Research summaries
- Mental health of Canadians who work from home no better or worse than those working outside the home. Research Highlights: Institute for Work & Health, October 2025.
- Which workers use active forms of transportation in their commutes?. Research Highlights: Institute for Work & Health, October 2024.
- Associations between physical activity patterns and cardiometabolic health in Canadian working adults. Research Highlights: Institute for Work & Health, June 2023.
- Workers doing vigorous, tiring activity all day no healthier than those who are least active. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, June 2022.
- Review synthesizes differences between men, women in injury risks and outcomes. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, May 2022.
Media coverage
- How employers can promote physical activity among workers: 3 messages based on research. The Conversation Canada. October 8, 2025. Available from: https://theconversation.com/how-employers-can-promote-physical-activity-among-workers-3-messages-based-on-research-259897
- The physical activity paradox. Rehab & Community Care. February 17, 2022. Available from: https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=1929&i=731841&p=18&ver=html5
- How can workplaces help promote exercise?. The Weekend Morning Show with Dave Trafford. November 21, 2021. Available from: https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/shows/the-weekend-morning-show-with-dave-trafford-1.377616
- Workplaces can help promote exercise, but job conditions remain a major hurdle. The Conversation. November 15, 2021. Available from: https://theconversation.com/workplaces-can-help-promote-exercise-but-job-conditions-remain-a-major-hurdle-170921
- Sitting or standing too much at work? New video addresses ways to lower associated health risks. Safety + Health. December 27, 2018. Available from: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17906-sitting-or-standing-too-much-at-work-new-video-addresses-ways-to-lower-associated-health-risks