Atrial Fibrillation Lifestyle Project

Inclusion Criteria:

1. paroxysmal, non-permanent, non-valvular AF. Patients with high burden of AF will beadmitted into the study ahead of low burden patients.

2. Low burden paroxysmal AF is defined as: ≥4 episodes of AF over the past 24months; episodes terminate spontaneously within 7 days or via cardioversionwithin 48 hours of onset.

3. High burden paroxysmal AF is defined as: ≥ 4 episodes of AF over the past 6months, with ≥ 2 episodes > 6 hours in duration; episodes terminate spontaneouslywithin 7 days or via cardioversion within 48 hours of onset.

4. Early persistent AF is defined as: ≥ 2 episodes of AF over the past 24 months;episodes are successfully terminated via cardioversion within 7 days of onset.

5. BMI equal to or greater than 27 kg/m^2, or central obesity using abdominalcircumference with ethnic specific values recommended by Canadian diabetesassociation.

6. one of hypertension or diabetes

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Permanent AF

2. Estimated survival < 2 years

3. Left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%

4. Weight > 300 lbs, treadmill cannot hold greater weights

5. Inability to walk one city block

6. Severe musculoskeletal or neurological problems making them unable to exercise safely

7. New York Heart Association class 3-4 heart failure

8. Severe aortic valve stenosis

9. Prior mitral valve surgery or severe stenosis or regurgitation

10. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

11. Patients with illnesses or medications that already cause atrial fibrillation on theirown, such as pericarditis, high doses of prednisone, and hyperthyroidism

12. Any other absolute and relative contraindications to exercise testing

13. Inability to speak and understand English

14. In atrial fibrillation at time of baseline testing

15. Defibrillator present