Decades of worksite fitness programmes. Progress or rhetoric?

Academic scrutiny has been directed at North American worksite fitness programmes, within broader health promotion programmes, for approximately a quarter of a century. Studies proclaiming the positive benefits of worksite fitness programmes for both the employer and employee have constantly been reported in the literature and presented at conferences. Many believe that health and fitness promotion at the worksite is firmly accepted by all concerned. Others believe that only healthcare cost containment interests allow these programmes to survive. Of concern is the low participation rate in programmes when the entire employee population is considered. As well, government commitment, while positively demonstrated in many ways, has been hampered by political priority setting and infrastructure duplication. In addition, neither a collective voice for the health movement has emerged nor has the movement actively sought to learn from those holding contradictory opinions. Corporate commitment to health promotion has not been overwhelmingly positive across varied socioeconomic employee populations. Several societal priorities may cause health promotion programmes to lose whatever attractiveness they presently hold as alternative benefit options develop. It is time for health promotion proponents to challenge themselves to examine the movement's issues and concerns and plan appropriate strategies for the future.