Fitness as health care is not a new idea. Susruta of India (circa 600 BCE) was the first recorded physician to write a prescription for exercise. Two hundred years later and half-a-world away, Hippocrates (the ‘father of medicine,’ circa 400 BCE) was prescribing exercise for consumption (tuberculosis). In the Roman empire, physicians prescribed exercise for diseases beyond just obesity and diabetes. Throughout history, physicians have advocated the health benefits of exercise.

In modern times, physicians recommend exercise as not only a treatment, but also as a preventive measure. Studies and trials have repeatedly shown that regular exercise helps prevent cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. It is known to help prevent eight different cancers (bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach), reduces the risk of dementia, and reduces the risk of depression.

In short, fitness makes people healthier and happier.

“Sure,” you say, “that’s common knowledge. So what?”

For businesses, this matters because medical absenteeism is on the rise. In 2024, workplace absences for medical reasons were more than double the number of absences for all other reasons combined. At the same time, medical costs for employers have been steadily increasing. This is not a coincidence. A major part of the problem is the high rate of sedentary behaviors in the modern workplace. To remain competitive, employers need to turn the tide and reduce medical absenteeism.

The solution is Preventive Fitness.

Many forward-thinking businesses have made this realization and are now adding onsite fitness facilities. They could, and many do, supplement the employee expense of gym memberships or simply pay them outright. This is a good solution for small businesses, but creating onsite facilities goes a step further. Having an onsite fitness facility breaks down the common access barriers to fitness that everyone experiences. Most people want to be fit (or simply fitter than they currently are), and easy access to facilities is a key to a successful preventive fitness program.

So what does preventive fitness look like at an onsite facility?

It looks like friends coming together for a workout before clocking in. It looks like a lunch break spent improving mobility with a trained instructor. It looks like employees relieving the work day’s stress at the gym before heading home. Regardless of individual fitness goals or the reason people cross that threshold and start exercising, preventive fitness is happening every day, and it looks like a lot of fun.

At MC Corporate Wellness, we help corporate clients achieve their health and wellness goals through onsite fitness classes. Our instructors provide classes designed for scalability based on the individual employee’s goals and restrictions. Regardless of their age or baseline level of fitness, we meet them where they are on their fitness journey. The end result? Increased strength, improved mobility, and reduced risk of health concerns.

We provide Preventive Fitness.