Impact of dropping out of the ‘Sports for Health’ Programme in Grenada

Objective: To determine the reasons for dropping out and if there were any significant differences in body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) between active participants in the Sports for Health programme and participants who were lost to drop out. Methods: Persons who were originally part of the programme and data collection in 2011, but are no longer active participants were evaluated. The evaluation utilized the data from the participants at their last BMI and WHR measurements as programme participants and follow up measurements as non-participants in 2014. Results: Data analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) was signficantly higher in persons who no longer participated in the sports for health programme when compared to active programme participants. In addition, non-participation of persons in the Sports for Health programme was found to increase individual risk factors for chronic diseases, which were originally mitigated by participation in the programme. Barriers to participation by many women in the programme included lack of partner support and negative community perceptions, which influenced several women to discontinue their participation in the programme. Recommendations were made in order to address the barriers to participation and to decrease the drop-out rate in the Sports for Health programme in Grenada. Conclusion: Withdrawal of participation in the Sports for Health programme adversely affects persons BMI and WHR. Interrupted exercise programme contributes to increasing risk factors for several non-communicable chronic diseases.