WHFI conducts and reports on research into the health effects of woman-centered fitness programs and their implementation.

We have known for some time that adequate and appropriate physical fitness activities – cardiovascular endurance, musculoskeletal strength and flexibility, and mind/body skills for stress management – are vital to a woman's health and well-being. Yet, less than 20% of women participate in fitness activities during the critical periods of adolescence, child-bearing and menopause.

While important and effective in laboratory research, traditional male-centered models of sport and recreational activity do not meet the needs of 80% of women. Understanding this, WHFI elects a different model for effective health fitness programming: 

There is accruing evidence that a woman's fitness during her childbearing years impacts the health of the woman and her offspring. In addition, it may presage her health in midlife and beyond. But, female puberty signals the time when movement interests of most females diverge from the acculturated norm of competitive sports – leaving them with few opportunities for enjoyable physical activity.

The ability to bear children is the central issue in women's health. Whether a woman chooses to reproduce or not, she is motivated throughout her life cycle to behave in ways guided by her fertility, its onset, maturity, and decline.

Most of the ramifications of this biological imperative remain to be understood in a scientific way. Translation of this knowledge into meaningful health fitness activities for women will make a significant contribution to public health.

WHFI has taken up this challenge by making woman-centered fitness interventions available for study. By linking with universities and other institutions interested in women's health, WHFI seeks to discover how woman-centered physical activity produces health for women, their families and the community.