MAN V FAT

MAN v FAT Football is a national rolling series of 14-week football leagues for men who want to lose weight and get healthier, open only to men with a body mass index of 30 or over. The aim is to encourage overweight men to get off the sofa and get some exercise in a shame-free environment where everyone else is in the same situation. Since 2017, 20 leagues in 16 new locations have been launched, thanks to Sport England funding.

“Men join because they love football and hate being fat,” says Head of Growth and Innovation, Richard Crick.

“They see all the things that their weight is cheating them of: the ability to play with their children, how much their body hurts with aching joints, snoring and wheezing every time they climb the stairs, never finding any clothes that fit... the list goes on. All of them join with the motivation to lose weight and do so in a way that is truly enjoyable and inspiring.”

Uniquely, the league is decided not just on points won, but pounds lost. It gives support to every player with resources, inspiration and 24/7 support to help men lose weight, get fitter and enjoy the game. MAN v FAT football costs £9.99 to register as a player/on a team, and £25 per month, but there are Sport England funded places available, meaning no cost to the player. “We’ve been delighted to offer nearly 1,500 men the opportunity to join funded leagues across the UK, often in some of the most challenging communities,” says Richard.

In an assessed 14-week scheme run by Solihull Council, players lost 22lbs on average, with 62% hitting their 5% body weight target. The maximum weight lost by one player was 67lbs and the maximum body weight percentage lost was 26%. On average, 28lbs (2st) per player is lost in a 14-week league, and 95% of players lose weight.