Cardiovascular Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription for Sedentary Employees at Dangote Industries, Lagos

Physical inactivity among corporate employees contributes substantially to preventable cardiovascular disease and reduced workplace productivity. This study assessed cardiovascular fitness levels and developed evidence-based exercise prescriptions for sedentary employees at Dangote Industries Limited in Lagos, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional fitness evaluation was conducted among 90 employees with sedentary desk-based roles. Cardiovascular fitness was estimated using the Queens College Step Test, with resting heart rate, blood pressure, and body mass index also measured. Employees were classified into fitness categories using established normative tables. Exercise prescription was developed based on the American College of Sports Medicine principles, adapted for the Nigerian workplace context. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied. Results showed that 58.9 percent of employees had below-average cardiovascular fitness, and 22.2 percent were in the poor fitness category. Hypertension was detected in 27.8 percent of participants. Fitness levels declined with increasing age and body mass index. The study concludes that cardiovascular fitness deficits are prevalent among sedentary corporate employees in Lagos and that tailored workplace exercise interventions could meaningfully reduce disease burden. Employer-facilitated fitness programmes, on-site exercise facilities, and periodic physiological health screening are recommended. Keywords: cardiovascular fitness, exercise prescription, sedentary workers, workplace wellness, Lagos.