Lessons learned from employee fitness programs at the Marshfield Clinic

To describe and evaluate employee fitness programs at the Marshfield Clinic.

A 16-week program was offered to employees from April-July 2004, and a 12-week program was offered from August-November, 2004. Weekly e-mails included suggestions to increase physical activity and eat a healthy diet. Incentives were offered for meeting program goals.

A total of 1129 employees signed up for the first program (approximately 18% of all employees) and 610 for the second program. More than 95% of the participants in both programs were female. The activity program goal was met by 231 (20.5%) participants in the first program and 31% (n = 190) of participants in the second program. There was a significant increase in the percent of people with good or excellent fitness levels from baseline (46.4%, 95% CL = 40.5, 52.3) to follow-up (70.7%, 95% CL = 65.3, 76.0) in the first program. In the second program, there was a significant association between the number of program goals met and self-report of having increased energy, better weight control, and feeling better overall and about body image.

Emphasis in future programs should be placed on increasing employee participation. Program evaluation could be expanded to include health care costs and employee absenteeism.