Career
He is the author of the 1968 book Aerobics, which emphasized a point system for improving the cardiovascular system. The popular mass market version was The New Aerobics (), published a few years later. His points system is also the basis of the 10,000 steps per day method of maintaining adequate fitness by walking.
In his Air Force career, Cooper had devised a simple test (the Cooper test, originally the distance run in 12 minutes) which correlated well with VO2max, and so could conveniently be used to quickly establish the fitness level of large numbers of people.
Cooper developed the Smart Snack Ribbon guidelines put into use by the convenient fun foods division of Pepsi Cola, Incorporated., Frito-Lay. Cooper has published 18 books that have sold 30 million copies and been translated into 41 languages.
Cooper has written about the importance of Christian religious faith in his life.