ABSTRACT
Skyrocketing health-care costs and new understanding about disease prevention and health promotion are changing the patterns of work and health in the United States today. Over past decades, we have witnessed a shift away from problems of acute infections to chronic disease and accidents. The leading sources of morbidity and mortality in the U.S.—heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, diabetes, and liver disease—all have been linked strongly with risk factors affected by personal behavior. Some estimates suggest that more than 60% of premature mortality could be avoided through behavior changes, such as smoking cessation, proper diet, stress management, accident prevention, and adequate exercise (Amler & Eddins, 1987). Correspondingly, there is an increasing focus on the opportunities to improve the health of the working population and their families through work-site health promotion.
