BREAKING A SWEAT.

• Author: COLE, HELLEIGH

BREAKING A SWEAT at work used to be the norm. But with the information age booming, the hard labor that once dominated the American workforce has decreased. Instead of getting a workout at work, most employees must schedule time off the job to stay in shape.

The problem is many aren't. And businesses are becoming concerned because out-of-shape employees often mean higher healthcare costs and employee absenteeism. As a result on-site fitness centers and wellness programs are becoming more popular.

However despite the national trend toward fitness in the workplace Utah businesses are trailing behind. A comparison between the number of on-site fitness programs nationwide versus the number in Utah shows that Utah is far below the national average according to the Utah State Council on Health and Physical Activity in 1998 for Utah businesses with 750 or more employees only 33 percent reported having fitness facilities compared with 54 percent nationwide.

Furthermore only 27 percent of adults in Utah reported participating in any regular physical activity according to a 1999 Utah Local Health District Report and 17 percent said they did not perticipate in any physical activity at all.

These figures may begin to change as Utah businesses see the benefits of offering health and fitness options to their employees -- benefits such as lower healthcare costs, reduced sick days and less incidence of certain diseases. In 1999 a study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Chronic Disease Control concluded that healthcare costs were substantial Healthcare plans that do not systematically support members efforts to improve health related behaviors may be incurring short-term healthcare costs that may be partially preventable. The study also reported a 4.7 percent employees participated in physical activity.

Health problems such as high blood pressure high cholesterol heart disease and cardiovascular problems are among those that may be prevented by regular exercise and a sensible diet in fact studies show that 12 percent of all deaths and 23 percent to 46 percent of coronary diseases could be prevented through physical activity according to the 1999 local Health District.

ATTITUDE CHANGE

Regular exercise also helps reduce-stress and improves employee morale Attitudes change not just because employees have more energy but because they feel happier with themselves and that makes them more productive says Craig Barr general manager of Gold's Gym in Salt Lake. It...