Worksite fitness and health promotion programs have grown exponentially in the past 15 years. To examine the impact of these programs, the literature through 1988 was reviewed. In general, fitness and wellness programs result in increased levels of fitness and a reduction in the risk factors for coronary heart disease. Recent research using control groups has found relations between reduction in health care costs, absenteeism, and turnover and implementation of comprehensive health promotion programs. Issues related to participation rates, program implementation, and evaluation are also addressed.

In the past 15 years, American business and industry have increased their awareness of the importance of physical fitness and wellness in the workplace. The exponential growth of worksite health promotion programs has partially resulted from the belief that an organization should take some responsibility for the welfare of its most valuable resource, the worker. This is not an entirely new concept. Employers have had a vested interest in the health education and training of their employees since the 1920s (Schirmer, 1925). Health screening, employee assistance, and health education programs that promoted positive management and labor relations, a decrease in infectious disease, and assistance to employees with personal problems (e.g., alcohol) were common throughout the 1950s (Fuchs & Richards, 1985). These programs, supported by industrial health and safety advocates, furnished educational materials to employees, but usually did not provide time, space, or change of worksite routine, nor did they reflect a genuine commitment from top management (Ardell, 1985).

The life-style of the American public has become more sedentary and has been identified as a major contributor to the 10 leading causes of death (Harris, 1980; Matarazzo, Weiss, Herd, Miller, & Weiss, 1984). The health habits associated with this sedentary life-style have been shown to be related to the incidence of diseases, such...