- Men and women between 40 and 60 years of age. The lower age range for men and women is selected to help ensure recruitment of a sample with metabolic syndrome as prevalence of metabolic syndrome is significantly related to age. The selection of 60 years for the upper age range reflects concerns we have randomizing older adults to the high intensity exercise group wherein exercise at 75-80% of maximum may be difficult to achieve, and likely to be associated with increase orthopaedic injury and thus, poor compliance. We also considered lowering the lower age range from 40 to 35 years, but decided against doing so to increase the cost-effectiveness of recruitment (e.g., ensure a higher yield of those with metabolic syndrome).