He is credited with helping start America's fitness revolution by popularizing the sport of running and demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging.
In his books and on television talk shows, he extolled the benefits of physical exercise and how it considerably increased the average life expectancy.
In 1982, Fixx published Jackpot!, the story of what happened after the publication of The Complete Book of Running when he experienced the "Great American Fame Machine", becoming richer and more celebrated than he could have imagined.
[1] The autopsy, conducted by Vermont's chief medical examiner, Eleanor McQuillen, revealed that atherosclerosis had blocked one coronary artery 95%, a second 85%, and a third 70%.
[11] Australian band The Fauves referenced Hicks' material in the song "I'm Jim Fixx and I'm Dead Now", on their 2006 album Nervous Flashlights.