A public health intervention model for work-site health promotion. Impact on exercise and physical fitness in a health promotion plan after 24 months.

We need effective ways of getting adults to exercise if we are to meet the Surgeon General's 1990 health goals for the nation. This study reports a comprehensive effort to evaluate the sustained effect of a public health intervention model to achieve these health goals. Employees at four companies (N = 2,600) were exposed to a health promotion program, while employees at three comparison companies (N = 1,700) were offered an annual health screen. Daily energy expenditure in vigorous activity increased 104% among employees at companies offering the health promotion program, compared with a 33% increase among employees at comparison companies. Changes in exercise habits were corroborated by estimates of maximal oxygen uptake. Exercise and physical fitness improvements were distributed throughout the work force. Meaningful population changes in exercise and physical fitness can be produced at the work site and are of a magnitude that makes it possible to meet the 1990 goals for exercise and physical fitness.