Football weight loss clubs to kick off in St Albans and Watford next year

Man v Fat Football is encouraging men to take part, lose weight and enjoy sport CREDIT: Photo: Richard Blaxall

Submitted by Astute

Six-a-side football clubs that have helped over 6,000 men across the UK tackle obesity have kicked off in Hertfordshire, with more to launch in the county in the New Year.

The six-a-side football clubs, organised by Man v Fat Football, started taking place in Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage, Hertfordshire in November, and have now announced they are set to open new clubs in St Albans and Watford, Hertfordshire in January and February, respectively.

The football clubs are specifically aimed at overweight and obese men with a BMI of higher than 27.5. According to Public Health England figures, around 59.5 per cent of those aged over 18 in Hertfordshire are classed as overweight or obese or potentially as many as 250,000 men across the county.

The FA-affiliated scheme, currently has 6,000 players taking part in over 100 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 around 317,000 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, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our programme to Hertfordshire following many successful years of helping men lose weight and improve their lifestyle elsewhere in the country. Hertfordshire is a real hotbed for football, with representation in the Premier League and a popular grass-roots scene – we can’t wait to get involved.

“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.

“We have spaces for new players across the new clubs launching in the next few weeks, as well as the St Albans and Watford clubs that start early next year.”

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.