Fig. 1.

Flow chart of study design. A total of 55 subjects were recruited and randomized into two groups. Half of the subjects started with 6 weeks of hula-hooping (HULA) followed by 6 weeks of walking (WALK), while the other half started by walking for 6 weeks and then switched to hula-hooping for another 6 weeks. A total of 53 subjects completed the study. The primary endpoint was the % change in android fat as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) before and after the interventions measured at visits 3 (week 0), 6 (week 6), and 9 (week 12). * The metabolic study (visits 2, 5, and 8) included blood sampling for measurement of features of the metabolic/insulin resistance syndrome (lipids, liver enzymes, glucose, HbA_1c, and insulin) in addition to recording of blood pressure, body weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences.