FOOTBALL weight loss programme that has helped UK men lose nearly 400,000 pounds of weight to kick off in Thurrock.
A six-a-side football programme that has already helped over 15,000 men across the UK tackle obesity is set to make its debut in Thurrock on Sunday.
The six-a-side football club, organised by MAN v FAT Football, will take place on Sunday evenings at the Lakeside Sports Ground, Arterial Road, from February 27th.
The football clubs are specifically aimed at overweight and obese men with a BMI of higher than 27.5. According to Thurrock Council figures, around 70% of adults in Thurrock are classed as overweight or obese or potentially as many as 43,000 men in the town.
MAN v FAT, an FA-affiliated scheme, currently has nearly 7,500 players taking part in over 130 clubs across the UK. The programme was created by Andrew Shanahan, who, fed-up with traditional weight loss classes primarily aimed at women, decided to develop a programme that combines the beautiful game with achievable weight loss goals for men. The total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at almost 400,000 pounds.
Before matches, players are weighed, which is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on the amount of weight players have lost. Weight loss and match scores then contribute to teams’ league positions within a club. Players receive additional support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.
Richard Crick, Head of MAN v FAT Football, says:
“We are delighted to be expanding our programme to Thurrock following many successful years of helping men lose weight and improve their lifestyle elsewhere in the country. We can’t wait to get started.”
“MAN v FAT isn’t just about losing weight, it’s about enjoying sport in a friendly environment, learning about healthy lifestyle and diet – while making new friends.
Players can join up at www.manvfat.com/football and they can get more information by calling 0345 163 1042 or emailing football@manvfat.com
Additional information
MAN v FAT leagues are subject to the local restrictions and have a list of local authority coronavirus webpages here: https://manvfat.com/coronavirus/
There are over 20 million overweight and obese men in the UK, accounting for nearly 7 out of every 10 men. The issue of weight has become such a concern that a recent report suggested that the government should treat this as the number one public health concern. Despite this, funding has been cut to local authorities and men are nearly 300% less likely to get support for their weight than women.
MAN v FAT Football now runs over 130 leagues across the UK and Australia, with more leagues due to launch. MAN v FAT also supports more than 1.6 million men through their website (www.manvfat.com), their forum (www.talk.manvfat.com) and social media (www.facebook.com/manvfat, www.twitter.com/manvfat, www.instagram.com/manvfat, www.youtube.com/user/manvfat))
