WORK-SITE PHYSICAL-FITNESS PROGRAMS - COMPARING THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAM DESIGNS ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS

The relative impact of three different approaches to physical fitness at the work site on cardiovascular risk reduction is examined, based o n before/after health screening of employees, and employees' reports o f participation in physical exercise activities. The three approaches tested were: 1) a staffed physical fitness facility, 2) one-to-one cou nseling with at-risk employees, and 3) a combination of one-to-one cou nseling with employees plus organization of the work site to encourage peer support and mutual exercise activity at work. A fourth site is u sed as a control site. The program that was centered around a physical fitness facility had little measurable impact on cardiovascular risks , and showed results similar to those at the control site. Both of the other programs were more effective, with the combination of counselin g and plant organization providing the best health outcomes in terms o f frequency of exercise, adequacy of blood pressure control (among hyp ertensives), weight loss (among the overweight), and smoking cessation . These results indicate that systematic, ongoing outreach to enlist e mployees in various types of exercise programs is more effective than the presence of fitness facilities without such outreach. Moreover, si gnificant increases in frequency of exercise can be sustained without a substantial investment in facilities.