Table 1 Major inclusion and exclusion criteria

 Age

35–65 years

 Sex

Men and women

 Overweight/obese body mass index

25.0–45.0 kg/m²

 Physically inactive

Sedentary/low active, not participating in regular aerobic or resistance exercise < 20 min, ≤2 days/week for last 3 months

 African American

Self-identify as African American

 Informed consent

Willingness and capability to provide written consent and to understand the exclusion criteria

 Diabetes

Diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL

 Cardiovascular disease or disorders

Diagnosed congestive heart failure, serious arrhythmias, peripheral vascular disease with intermittent claudication, previous stroke, or myocardial infarction

 Resting blood pressure

Excessively high resting systolic (>180 mmHg) or diastolic (>100 mmHg) blood pressure. Participants taking blood pressure medications at time of recruitment are permitted to enroll.

 Blood lipids

Total cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥160 mg/dL, or triglycerides ≥300 mg/dL

 Other exclusionary medical conditions

Chronic or reoccurring neuromuscular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, HIV, or psychiatric conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions affecting exercise. Current treatment for mental illness or hospitalization from mental illness within previous 5 years. Autoimmune or collagen vascular diseases. Other medical conditions that are considered life-threatening or that can be provoked from exercise training

 Other exclusion criteria

Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant. Currently engaging in or plans to engage in weight loss or dieting program. Addition of medication or dosage (or both) unstable in past 3 months. Previous bariatric surgery or current weight loss medications. Plans to leave the Pitt County (NC) area for more than 2 weeks during the next 6 months. Non-compliance in wearing pedometer or demonstration of high risk for non-compliance/dropout during screening