The goals of this study were to determine the rate of adherence to exercise treatment of hypercholesterolemia and to identify personality and demographic factors associated with adherence. Of the 31 subjects entering the 26-week program, 12 attended 80% or more of the scheduled sessions. Adherence was positively associated with the perceived seriousness of hypercholesterolemia, the expectation of benefit from treatment, and depressed feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Negative associations were identified between adherence and the perception of health status being under the control of chance or of powerful others. Older subjects were more likely to be adherers at 8 and 16 weeks but not at 26 weeks.