Fig. 3

a–d Relative exercise capacity (a), total PA (b), WAI_total (c) and MetS-z-score (d) in the whole intervention group across baseline, visit 2 and visit 3, and in the subgroups A, B and C across the maintenance phase from visit 2 to visit 3. Relative exercise capacity (p < 0.001, η² = 0.46), total PA (p < 0.001, η² = 0.24) and WAI_total (p < 0.001, η² = 0.18) increased significantly across the three time points, respectively decreased for MetS-z-score (p < 0.001, η² = 0.23). WAI work ability index, PA physical activity