Corporate America's investments in fitness programs for workers are beginning to pay some dividends, according to a poll of large employers conducted by the National Business Group on Health.

“More and more employers are seeing the value of helping their workers become and stay fit and trim,” said Helen Darling, the group's president. “Over the past few years, we have seen a growing number of companies implementing various fitness programs aimed at helping workers lose weight, eat healthy, and create an overall healthy lifestyle.”

Of the companies responding to the poll, 56 percent reported increased morale among their workforces as a result of their fitness programs and initiatives. Other benefits included reduced health-care costs, according to 27 percent, and 20 percent experienced increased worker productivity and decreased absenteeism.

The most prevalent fitness amenities offered by employers are on-site fitness centers (77 percent) and on-site fitness programs (69 percent), while 67 percent sponsor fitness programs. Employers also are providing access to fitness information, with 60 percent offering materials on local programs and 38 percent supplying web-based tools for tracking and information.

One of the biggest challenges facing companies, however, is getting more employees to take advantage of their fitness programs, said Darling. About two-thirds of the companies reported that fewer than 25 percent of their workers participate in their fitness programs. At three out of ten, between 25 and 50 percent of workers participate, while only two percent said that more than half of their workforce takes advantage of these programs.

Special Reports /

Corporate Fitness Programs Create Healthier Employees

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