Half the number of people advised by NHS practitioners to go on exercise programmes to get fit end up dropping out within three months, research has concluded.

Researchers at the University of Northumbria found that the dropout rate within exercise referral schemes (ERS) was 50 per cent, most of which occurred in the first six weeks.

Between April 2009 and April 2014, a total of 6,894 people in the South Tyneside area had their ERS data analysed.

Findings, published in the Journal for Public Health, showed that 1.4 per cent (98) did not start the programme. At six-week assessment, 37.8 per cent (2,608) had dropped out, and by the final assessment at 12 weeks, 50.03 per cent (3,449) had left the scheme. This meant 49.97 per cent (3,445) completed the programme.

Those completing the scheme were on average 51 years of age, whereas the average age of those dropping out was 46 years old.

Those who smoked, were younger, or had serious and complex health conditions, were more likely to drop out of the scheme. The study said: “This highlights the complexity of ERS adherence, suggesting that different subgroups of participants require different approaches to increase physical activity levels, or may not be suitable for ERS in isolation. However, further investigation into why these participants are more likely to drop out is required.”

ERS try to help increase physical activity among people who are inactive or sedentary and are otherwise healthy or who have an existing health condition or other risk factors for disease. They have been prominent since the 1990s, with up to 89 per cent of primary care organisations running a scheme, typically running over 10–12 weeks.

Dr Nick Caplan, associate professor of musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation and director of Postgraduate Research at Northumbria University said: “There have been a number of previous studies reporting on the completion rates of the schemes, but this is the first which looks at the reasons why participants are dropping out and if this can be predicted.

“As well as identifying participants who are more likely to drop out the research also shows that those who indicated a lack of time, motivation or childcare as potential barriers to increasing their exercise are actually more likely to finish the course.

“These findings require further research and in the second stage of our study we are interviewing participants to discover in more detail the reasons for not completing the course as well as interviewing those who were more likely to finish the course to see what lessons can be learned.”