Multi-component Workplace Energy Balance Intervention

The energy expenditure intervention includes replacing workplace sedentary time with access to a dedicated pedal desk and increasing steps/day with wearable monitors. Both components are incorporated into an electronically-delivered behavior monitoring and support infrastructure, thus enabling continuous management. The investigators will utilize pedaldesks manufactured and owned by Pennington Biomedical Research Center to conduct this study at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana offices in Baton Rouge, La. 40 individuals will be recruited and randomized to either a control arm or combined Walk More Pedal Desk (WMPD) intervention. Primary (MRI-determined visceral adipose tissue) and secondary (changes in body weight, total adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, blood pressure, blood lipids, fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1-c, free-living accelerometer-determined walking, time spent in sedentary behavior, exercise, and dietary intake) outcomes will be assessed at baseline and month 3.

Inclusion criteria

• BMI: > or equal to 25.0 kg/m2 and < or equal to 40 kg/m2
• Waist Circumference: >102 cm (men) or > 88 cm (women)
• Any one of the other four defining risk factors defining metabolic syndrome (Triglycerides > or equal to 150 mg/dL , HDL Cholesterol < 40 mg/dL (men) or < 50 mg/dL (women), Resting blood pressure > or equal to 130 mm Hg systolic / 85 mm Hg diastolic, Fasting glucose > or equal to 110 mg/dL)

Exclusion criteria

• Systolic blood pressure > 179 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 99 mmHg
• Self-reported Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, or use of diabetes-related medications
• Significant CVD or disorders
• Other significant medical conditions including but not limited to implants that may interfere with MRI, chronic respiratory, gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, or psychiatric conditions, malignancies in the past 5 years, with the exception of skin cancer therapeutically controlled, endocrine (including diabetes), any other medical conditions or disease (including arthritis) that is life threatening or that can interfere with or be aggravated by exercise.
• Poor compliance to activity monitors