A group of footballers from Gateshead have shed more than 150 pounds in weight through their participation in the MAN v FAT programme at Gateshead International Stadium. This collaborative initiative between the MAN v FAT club and the Active Through Football Campaign run by Gateshead Council is aimed at men with BMIs higher than 27.5. These men weigh themselves before they play six-a-side football games, and bonuses are awarded to teams that record the highest amount of weight loss.
Over 8,000 men are currently involved in more than 150 MAN v FAT clubs throughout the UK, with new players able to apply for a free 14-week season in the programme. Jordan Aitken praised the initiative, saying that playing weekly football with his newfound friends had improved his fitness and helped him lose weight while having fun. The social aspect is great, it gives me a reason to go and exercise with friends instead of coming home from work and watching TV all evening, he said.
Aitken added that MAN v FAT had changed his eating habits and overall lifestyle for the better, with him now having a lot more energy for himself and his family. He had lost more than one and a half stone in weight (21 pounds) in only nine weeks through the programme, after having fallen into a routine of consuming convenient and processed foods. Since he began tracking what he ate and dieting properly, he has moved from weighing 17st 6lbs to 15st 13lbs.
The MAN v FAT initiative has been successful in encouraging men to lose weight through exercise and healthy eating while having a good time. This collaborative programme with Gateshead Council has provided the opportunity for many men from the local areas to join in and make a difference to their lives. With the social aspect and fun factor of weekly football, MAN v FAT proves that getting healthy doesn’t have to be a daunting or monotonous task.
