SummaryObjectives: To develop and test a counselling programme based on the Transtheoretical Model of behavioural change, for promoting exercise in people over the age of 65. and an initial counselling session, they received two counselling sessions, followed by a 12-month follow-up (T2). Changes in exercise behaviour were recorded by means of stage classifi cation and the time spent on everyday moderate-intensity activities that increase the breathing rate.Results: At T1 there was a tendency for women to be less physically active than men. T1 to T2 the proportion of inactive people fell from 12.2 % to 4.2 %, and the proportion of people suffi ciently active rose from 19.0 % to 31.3 %. The changes in stage were signifi cant in both men and women. At T2 more than half of the participants in the study spent more time exercising. Conclusions:The results indicate that, with counselling, the exercise behaviour of the elderly can be positively infl uenced over a 1-year period. Rationale for promoting exercise among older adults Regular physical activity of at least moderate intensity contributes to a number of health benefi ts for the elderly (U.S. Department of Health 1996;Mazzeo et al. 1998; Samitz & Mensink 2002). On the basis of international physical activity recommendations (U. S. Department of Health 1996; Pate et al. 1995), Switzerland developed graded exercise recommendations for the whole population in the form of an "exercise pyramid" (Martin 2002). The fi rst stage of the pyramid (basic recommendation) recommends at least half an hour of lifestyle moderate-intensity activities or sport of at least moderate intensity, which increases breathing rate, such as brisk walking. These 30 min should be carried out every day or nearly every day for women and men of any age and can also be taken in a minimum of three 10-minute bouts. The second stage corresponds to additional training for endurance or strength and mobility. The top of the pyramid provides for further sporting activities including competitive sports. Despite the afore mentioned, among those over 65 (65-92 years), 45.4 % were active according to the basic recommendations, 4.9 % performed cardio-vascular endurance training and 49.7 % were inactive . As these fi gures are based on summative self-assessment, they are likely to be an overestimate Martin 2002b). Lamprecht and Stamm (2001) therefore assessed the level of activity on the basis of minutes of activity per day. For 60-to 74-year-olds (n = 368 people), 70.0 % did not reach the basic recommendations, and can be considered inactive. In addition, longitudinal analysis of the Swiss health survey (Lamprecht & Stamm 2000) has shown that the proportion of inactive people (defi ned as no episode of perspiring per week in leisure time) increased by about 4 % from 1992 to 1997. For public health reasons, there is therefore a need to promote exercise in the elderly.The status of exercise intervention research Two reviews of the exercise intervention literature with older adults concluded that signifi ca...

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