Does employee fitness decrease employee absenteeism and medical cost?

In recent years American have become increasingly interested in physical fitness and optimum health care. Health care is big business in the United States. American industry has lead the nation in a quest for wellness by establishing wellness programs for it's employees. This article will attempt to determine: 1) if employees on a fitness program facilitate cost containment for industry when compared to employees not participating in a fitness program; and 2) if employees on a fitness program experience reduced absenteeism due to health reasons and reduced medical costs compared to employees not participating in a fitness program.