The effectiveness of a corporate exercise intervention programme on cardiovascular risk profile, fitness and productivity: A South African view

Abstract

Background. Workplace wellness and disease-prevention programmes have been given increasing attention as a means to improve employee health and lower health costs. Health risk factors have been associated with improved work productivity. Further, health risk is reduced with improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Therefore, personal and workplace benefits may be achieved by workplace wellness programmes.

Objectives. To investigate the effect of an on-site exercise-based wellness programme in a South African (SA) corporation. The impact of the programme on health risk factors, physiological parameters and corporate productivity indices was assessed.

Methods. Members joining the on-site gym facility of an SA corporation embarked on an individualised 12-week exercise programme, designed using the MyWellness Technogym Cloud platform and based on the participant’s cardiovascular risk stratification. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, waist circumference, CRF and muscle strength measures were assessed at the start and the end of the 12-week intervention. The number of pre- and postintervention cardiac risk factors were also applied to the Association of Health Productivity Management formula to estimate the effect of the intervention on absenteeism, presenteeism and productivity loss.

Results. The number of cardiovascular risk factors decreased in the low-, medium- and high-risk groups (68.1%, 42.7% and 41%, respectively). Body mass and BMI decreased significantly (mean (standard deviation (SD) ‒0.3 (5.0)% and ‒0.3 (5.4)%, respectively). Waist circumference also decreased significantly by 2.2% (6.3%). Only the diastolic blood pressure component of blood pressure changed significantly (‒1.2 (14.7)%) and VO₂ peak increased by 14.2%. Upper- and lower-body strength improved by 17.9% and 20%, respectively. VO₂ peak, BMI and lower-body strength were the only variables that changed significantly after effect size calculations were applied. Furthermore, the predicted impact on productivity loss showed a 1.1% improvement. This was the result of a predicted reduction in absenteeism (0.4%) and a reduction in presenteeism (0.8%).

Conclusions. This corporate on-site exercise intervention programme positively affected the cardiovascular risk factors, biometrics, muscle strength and CRF of employees. These health outcomes decreased employee productivity loss. On-site workplace wellness programmes should be encouraged.