In response to rising health care costs, numerous U.S. companies offer corporate fitness and wellness options to employees. "The most important thing a company can offer employees to advance wellness is a willingness to meet employees needs no matter what stage they are at in their wellness journey," says Marianne Jackson, senior vice president of human resources at Blue Shield of California. "By keeping the healthy well, companies can lower health care costs and increase employee productivity."

Weight-Loss Programs: Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of all time, and the annual medical costs associated with obesity are estimated to be as high as $147 billion in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 2009, more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults were obese. Obesity is an important driver of costs in the workplace, so companies offer programs that help employees lose weight. Lopez Negrete Communications, a Houston-based marketing agency, sponsored a weight-loss contest in 2010 in which the winner was awarded $1,000.

Exercise While You Work: If you've ever postponed a workout so that you could meet a last-minute deadline or type out one last email, it might be time to replace your work station with a treadmill that comes equipped with space for a laptop. According to the Mayo Clinic, a "walk-and-work approach" could mean that office workers who are overweight or obese could lose 44 to 60 pounds in a year by replacing sedentary computer time with walking on an office treadmill for two or three hours each day.

Why Set Up a Corporate Membership Scheme for Your Employees?

Employees who exercise on a regular basis are healthier, happier and more resistant to sickness and the negative effects of stress. They also display elevated levels of alertness and energy, ensuring a more sharply focused approach to the working day. Often, these traits are what make the difference between mediocrity and excellence.

Effective corporate fitness policy is about providing employees with the opportunity to take responsibility for their own health and fitness. Through ongoing education, a supportive environment, and encouragement, companies can empower their staff to take advantage of the benefits that training and proper nutrition provide. After all, your employees are your greatest investment -- it makes sense to maintain them.

Corporate Fitness Solution

The budget usually plays the most important role in creating a successful corporate fitness program. Companies differ in many ways and one of them is also availability of financial resources in the form of employee benefits. Is it really worth spending money on a fitness program for employees? Yes, and if the representatives of a fitness centre really listen to you, they should be able to provide you with a fitness solution that will suit not just your needs, but also your budget.