Sedentary habits in middle-aged individuals are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Studies examining this association typically have assessed physical activity participation in a narrow window, (for example, 1 week or 1 month) relative to probable disease etiology and progression. When the study was initiated, the possible relation of long-term physical activity patterns over decades or a lifetime to disease risk was not known because there existed no validated method of determining such exposure, but such studies were needed. It was hypothesized that validation of long-term recall of activity could lead to the application of lifetime physical activity patterns questionnaires. Data on lifetime activity patterns might be useful in case-comparison and prospective studies of cardiovascular disease.