[A study of exercise programs and instructors for a fitness program in a corporate setting].
The objective of the study was to evaluate the importance of diversity in exercise programs and athletic instructors in a corporate physical fitness program. Subjects were 717 Japanese chemical factory employees (male 524, female 193) in Japan who were surveyed using a questionnaire, with a resultant response rate of 84%. Many employees who participated in regular physical activities on a voluntary basis were motivated to exercise for reasons other than health, with a variety of motivating factors suggested. The total number of sports programs in which male and female employees participated voluntarily were 31 and 15, respectively. For employees not yet participating in physical activities but expressing interest in joining a company sponsored sports class, the total number of programs in which interest was shown was 40 for males and 22 for females. Professional athletic instructors from outside fitness clubs appeared to have far more appeal to employees than athletic instructors who were recruited from company employees and given a short athletic instructor course to become health care leaders at the same factory in addition to their regular job. In order to enhance participation in and adherence to a corporate fitness program, it was suggested that the number of exercise programs be increased and that outside professional athletic instructors be employed.
Muto
T
T
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University.
Sakurai
H
H
Yoshida
K
K
Izuno
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching