Building a Healthier Company

Abstract

In recent years much interest has been directed to the formation of employee fitness programmes in business and industry. This interest reflects a growing awareness of, and concern for, the health hazards associated with modern sedentary living, where the cost of physical inactivity and dietary excesses has resulted in an increase of 'hypokinetic disease'. This term includes the conditions of cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, bone, muscle and joint problems, premature ageing and various vaso-regulatory disturbances.

Several researchers have reported both physological and psychological benefits of employee health and fitness programmes. Beyond a 'perk', company-sponsored health and fitness programmes are yielding a variety of desirable results (see Figure 1)