Ma. Heirich et al., WORK-SITE PHYSICAL-FITNESS PROGRAMS - COMPARING THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAM DESIGNS ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS, Journal of occupational medicine, 35(5), 1993, pp. 510-517
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.