How AI can help employers support employee fitness

Today more than ever, companies must adapt their employee benefits offerings to the ever-changing needs of their workforce in order to promote company wide well-being. Thoughtful leaders increasingly recognize how physical fitness helps maintain and improve employee mental health, but far too few of them harness every available tool to tackle the $1 trillion problem of lost productivity due to anxiety and depression. As technology advances, artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly emerges as a transformative tool to support employee wellness. 

In the age of increased flexibility and work-life balance, many organizations are undergoing a cultural shift that's forcing managers to reassess their relationship with employees, workplaces and well-being. Given the recent explosion of remote and hybrid work environments, emphasizing on-site fitness facilities to bolster employee health no longer suffices for bigger companies. AI-driven fitness solutions can fill this gap by offering personalized insights, real-time feedback and engaging experiences that enhance how we approach our fitness routines — from anywhere, anytime. 

Read more: Fit for success: How exercise can improve employee engagement and job satisfaction

AI-powered fitness solutions harness the technology to provide personalized, data-driven fitness experiences that empower employees to improve their health, fitness and happiness. Leveraging biometric data, AI algorithms and sports science insights, advanced platforms create customized workout plans that adapt to each employee's unique fitness level, preferences and goals.

Collecting biometric data like heart rate, blood pressure, sleep patterns, body composition and other relevant health metrics with wearable fitness devices, smartphone apps or other connected health monitoring tools enables AI algorithms to analyze the information and personalize tailored workout plans and specific fitness recommendations. 

AI systems also can account for user- or company-created goals and integrate them with biometric analysis to maximize workouts for efficiency, results and safety. Even better, some solutions build adaptive workout plans that evolve based on the user's progress and progressing fitness levels, adjusting the intensity, duration and exercise types to optimize results. Other AI-driven fitness platforms even include virtual coaching elements, using natural language processing to provide personalized feedback, guidance and motivation throughout workouts and input to correct for next time. 

Read more: Mind-body connection: Gympass adds Headspace to employee benefits plan

Perhaps best of all, employees can access AI fitness offerings from the comfort of their home, on the go or even at nearby fitness network facilities, providing the ideal flexibility our increasingly hybrid workforce demands. 

Individual employees and organizations can achieve numerous benefits by incorporating AI technology into their fitness plans and wellness initiatives, respectively. 

First is personalization. By using advanced algorithms to analyze biometric data and other relevant information, AI can create highly personalized workout plans that are effective and engaging for each individual employee — regardless of their fitness level. Workout plans based on an individual employee's biometrics and backed by scientific evidence reduce the risk of injury and increase the likelihood of successfully maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. 

Data-driven insights like detailed performance metrics, areas of improvement and goal tracking empower employees to make informed decisions and stay motivated at every step of their fitness journey. By promoting regular physical activity and delivering personalized workout plans, AI fitness solutions encourage a proactive approach to health and well-being. This exercise-is-medicine point of view and focus on preventive care can reduce chronic disease risks, improve overall health outcomes and lower healthcare costs for organizations. 

Read more: Achieving total body health

In today's competitive job market, potential candidates increasingly seek employers prioritizing employee health and offering progressive benefits such as AI fitness solutions. Forward-thinking companies can attract top talent and retain valuable employees by providing cutting-edge wellness benefits and showcasing their commitment to employee well-being. 

By understanding the potential of AI-driven fitness benefits, business leaders, HR professionals, benefits advisers and other key decision-makers can make more strategic and informed decisions about employee well-being initiatives. This will surely enhance workforce satisfaction, engagement and overall performance. 

Do your clients strive to create a healthier, more engaged and fulfilled workforce? Embracing AI technology and an exercise-is-medicine approach to employee fitness will help their employee populations move smarter, get healthier and live happier.