I think a lot of it comes down to how streamlined modern hospitals are. A lot of planning goes into having people be exactly where they need to be and focused on a succession of related tasks. Back in the day a nurse might have to go run and grab something heavy to bring back. But that's time where any number of bad things might happen to a patient. So instead there's an ideal of having as much as possible right there before it's needed, and a steady chain of communication which can have the needed thing brought to her instead of her going for it. It's great for the patient, but the effects on removing a lot of a job's physical activity are about what you'd expect.  Especially because, and I don't want this to be taken as an excuse because it really isn't, it's often still a very emotionally draining job. Similar reason to why there's so much substance abuse, smoking, drinking, etc in many medical professions. Confronted with some of the worst life has to offer a lot of people retreat into any kind of chemical escape. It's somewhat understandable to me on that level. But at the same time it's infuriating because setting a proper example is part of the job. The job of anyone involved with medical care is to help people be their healthiest. Sending a message that it's ok to be fat, walking around smelling like an ashtray, drinking to the point where it's noticeable, and everything related is working directly in opposition to that every time they talk to a patient.