Physical activity levels
Trained research associates monitored the frequency, duration, and intensity of the participants’ physical activity at the fitness center. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on the participants leisure-time physical activity at baseline and six months later. Physical activity was recorded as the amount of time spent per week on each of the following activities: running, jogging, riding a bicycle, dancing, table tennis, soccer, basketball, squash, golfing, hiking, swimming, other aerobic exercise, weightlifting, and walking to and from work. MET minutes (METmin/wk) and hours (METhr/wk) per week were calculated by assigning MET values to each activity based on the compendium of physical activity intensities [