A Barnsley man has spoken about his weight-loss journey after shedding more than five-and-a-half stone with the help of a local football programme designed to encourage men to become healthier.
He decided it was time to make significant changes to his lifestyle following a health scare and joined MAN v FAT Football, which combines playing the game with regular weigh-ins and support from other members.
The Barnsley MAN v FAT club is based at 5ives Community Sports Club at Kendray Playing Fields and is part of a wider programme aimed at helping men with a BMI of 27.5 or above lose weight and improve their fitness.
Unlike a conventional football league, progress away from the pitch matters too. Players weigh in regularly, with their weight-loss achievements contributing towards their team's performance alongside what happens during matches.
The programme also places an emphasis on accountability and support, with players encouraged to make sustainable changes to their diet and activity levels while working towards their goals alongside teammates.
MAN v FAT says more than 90 per cent of players who complete their first season lose weight, with the combination of football, regular monitoring and peer support designed to make improving health more enjoyable and achievable.
For the Barnsley participant, the programme has helped turn the decision to change his lifestyle into a weight loss of more than five-and-a-half stone - while also getting him back onto the football pitch.
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Source: MAN v FAT