Which men can increase physical activity & lose weight after a gender-sensitive intervention delivered in a male-friendly setting?

Introduction: Obesity and lack of physical activity (PA) increasingly threaten individual and public health. Scotland has the highest levels of obesity in men in Europe. Gender-sensitisation is needed to attract overweight/obese men to weight management and PA interventions. Few studies have: focussed solely on men; assessed the impact of such interventions on both self-reported and objectively measured PA or of feeding back objective PA data to men; or identified predictors of success in achieving increased PA in this high-risk group. We have shown that the professional soccer setting can attract ‘high-risk’ men, a traditionally hard-to-reach group.

Objective: We report on: changes in self-reported and objectively measured PA (pre/post intervention) in overweight/obese men aged 35–65 taking part in Football Fans in Training (FFIT)), a 12-week, gender-sensitised group intervention, delivered via Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs. We also examine; acceptability of wearing objective PA monitors (activPALs); impact of providing feedback on objectively measured PA on weight loss and PA; which sub-groups are least able to achieve health-relevant PA/weight loss targets.

Methods: 11 SPL clubs delivered FFIT to 203 overweight/obese men in February–April 2012. At 4 clubs, men were invited to wear activPALs prior to starting FFIT and 12 weeks later. Height, weight, waist and blood pressure were measured at baseline and 12 weeks; data on socio-demographic status, health behaviours (diet, IPAQ, smoking, alcohol), self-efficacy in relation to changing PA and diet, and health and physical functioning (longstanding illness, joint pain, SF12, health service use) were also obtained.

Results: 63/73 men attending FFIT at four SPL clubs agreed to wear activPALs. Their mean age was 44.78 (sd10.29), 85.7% were married/cohabiting, and 30.1% lived in deprived communities. At baseline, men were at high risk of subsequent morbidity (mean BMI = 35.60 (sd5.26); mean waist circumference = 117.36cms (sd11.96)), and many had particular challenges to increasing PA: 63% had pre-existing joint pain; 57.1% reported their fitness as poor/very poor. At baseline mean daily PA measures were: time sitting/lying 17.78 h (sd1.62); step count 7953.70 (sd2973.21); time standing 4.54 h (sd1.36); time stepping 1.66 h (sd0.58); sit to stand transitions 31.80 (sd12.08); EE (MET) 33.80 h (sd1.22).

Discussion: This programme reaches a population group that does not traditionally enrol in existing weight loss services. These baseline characteristics suggest we have recruited the correct target group, but identify specific challenges for increasing their PA levels and success in losing weight; future programmes must be tailored to these needs.