When people set their own exercise goals and then pursue them immediately, it’s more likely to result in positive lasting changes, according to a new study. The researchers made their findings among an underserved population at particularly high risk of having or developing heart conditions, making the work especially important. “Most behavior change programs involve goal-setting, but the best way to design that process is unknown,” says lead author Mitesh Patel, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and vice president for Clinical Transformation at Ascension. “Our clinical trial demonstrated that physical activity increased the most when patients chose their goals rather than being assigned them, and when the goals started immediately rather than starting lower and gradually increasing over time. These findings are particularly important because the patients were from lower-income neighborhoods and may face a number of challenges in achieving health goals.” Who Sets Exercise Goals Matters …