Regular physical activity (PA) is of central importance for healthy ageing. However, in Germany, only 42% of older adults currently reach the PA recommendations of the World Health Organization. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two web-based interventions on PA in adults aged 65 to 75 years living in northwestern Germany compared to a delayed intervention control group (CG). 589 older adults were randomized to one of the three groups. Participants in intervention group 1 (IG1) received access to a web-based intervention for ten weeks assisting them in self-tracking PA behavior. Participants in IG2 received the intervention of IG1 and additionally an activity tracker to objectively track PA behavior. To analyze differences in objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA and sedentary time between baseline and follow-up (12 weeks after baseline), linear mixed models were used. The interaction effects revealed a decrease in minutes spent on moderate-to-vigorous PA in bouts of 10 min by 11 min per week in IG1 participants (beta -11.08, 95% CI -35.03 to 12.87). In comparison, IG2 participants were 7 min more physically active at follow-up (beta 7.48, 95% CI -17.64 to 32.60). Sedentary time in bouts of 30 min per week increased in IG1 participants (beta 106.77, 95% CI -47.69 to 261.23) and decreased in IG2 participants at follow-up (beta -16.45, 95% CI -178.83 to 145.94). Participation in the two web-based interventions did not lead to significant increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA or significant decreases in sedentary time compared to the CG. The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00010052, 07-11-2016).

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