Changes in Habitual Physical Activity and Inactivity

Inclusion Criteria: Eligible participants were those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, based on meeting two of the following three criteria: 1. Pre-hypertensive: resting blood pressure between 125-160 mm Hg systolic and/or 85-100 mm Hg diastolic, 2. overweight/obese: body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 45 kg∙m-2, 3. high central adiposity: as defined by elevated natural waist circumference (\> 102 cm \[males\] \> 88cm \[females\]), a surrogate measure of visceral fat 4. low aerobic fitness (VO2 peak ≤ 50th percentile of age and sex specific norms) 5. exercising less than three days per week for less than 20 minutes per session for the preceding six months Exclusion Criteria: * major orthopedic limitations, * wheelchair use or musculoskeletal problems that affected mobility, * life-threatening illness (e.g., terminal cancer), * chronic diseases (e.g., diagnosed heart disease, diabetes, emphysema) or * any condition for which a physician did not recommend exercise. Participants were excluded if they had gastric bypass or lap-band surgery within the last year, were taking medication for type II diabetes (e.g. metformin) or beta-blocker medication for high blood pressure.