A Banbury football club that encourages overweight and obese men to get fit has helped 30 men lose more than 25 stone in the last 12 months.
MAN v FAT Banbury, which convenes every Sunday at the North Oxfordshire Academy on Drayton Road, is currently seeking new members.
According to the Oxfordshire County Council Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, approximately 60 per cent of individuals aged 18 and over in Oxfordshire are categorised as overweight or obese, which could represent up to 24,500 adults in Banbury.
The MAN v FAT programme was established by Andrew Shanahan as a response to his dissatisfaction with traditional weight loss classes that are predominantly aimed at women.
With more than 8,200 players participating in more than 150 leagues across the UK, the scheme combines football with attainable weight loss targets specifically for men.
To date, MAN v FAT participants have collectively shed more than 650,000 pounds.
It is designed for men with a BMI of 27.5 or higher.
Before each match, players' weights are recorded, followed by a 30-minute six-a-side football game.
Teams are awarded extra goal bonuses based on their weight loss.
The combined total of weight loss and match scores then contribute to the club's league position.
George Millward, the coach of Banbury MAN v FAT, said: "We have seen an increase in new sign ups this year bringing a whole new range of people into the club.
"Some are here for a weight loss journey, some come for the social aspect.
"I can see what the smiles and laughs each Sunday brings to a lot of the lads; a lot of players seem in a happy mental state at the club.
"We have players saying MAN v FAT is improving both their physical and mental health, so we are helping with a wide range of needs.”
In addition to the football matches, MAN v FAT participants also get support off the field, such as healthy meal recipes and general fitness tips.
They also have full access to an online gym outside the weekly meeting.
Richard Crick, head of football at MAN v FAT, said: "We’re so proud of the progress made by the players and the wider team at our Banbury club.
"The men involved are genuinely changing their lives for the better by improving their physical and mental health, while making new friends and having fun in the process.
"While weight loss is the key goal for players, the programme is perfect for men who want to get back into playing football after time away from the game and improve their fitness gradually."
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