Employee Health: Motivations and Constraints to Fitness Program Participation

Abstract

Health research reports regular physical activity can substantially reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It also aids weight control, contributes to muscular and skeletal health, reduces falls among older adults, helps relieve arthritic pain, lessens symptoms of anxiety and depression, lessens dependence on medication and leads to fewer medical visits. Despite these benefits many in the U.S. lead sedentary lifestyles and are not active enough to realize these advantages. Physical inactivity is a national issue, as 62% of children do not participate in any organized sport during their non-school hours and 23% do not engage in any free-time physical exercise (CDC, 2002). The problem plagues older age groups too, as 65% of adults and 16% of youth are overweight or obese (CDC, 2003).