Participation and psychological changes among retirees in a corporate fitness program.

Abstract

Program Description A comprehensive health enhancement program complete with a 10,500-square-foot health and fitness facility was offered to the retirees of Champion International Corporation, a large paper company with a location in Hamilton, Ohio. This program was similar in scope to that offered to the employees and spouses of the company. Champion decided to offer its health enhancement program to retirees as well, in an effort to control the high medical insurance risk of retirees. This medical insurance risk stems from a low 1:1 ratio of employees to retirees as well as the fact that the company is selfinsured for medical insurance. In addition to the physical fitness component of the health and fitness program, Champion offered services such as health risk assessments, health education, and medical self-care programs to its employees, retirees, and spouses. The facility was open 13 hours a day, five days per week and on Saturday mornings in the winter months during the study period. Retirees were asked, however, to use the facility during non-peak employee usage times. Most retirees complied with this request. All prospective retiree participants were required to have physician clearance and a maximal stress test in accordance with the American College of Sports Medicine’s guidelines. 1 Baseline physiological measures were also taken.