Fitness scheme sees long-term gains for fans
● New research shows benefits of link with clubs
Football fans are seeing longterm positive impacts on their health thanks to a scheme to improve their fitness.
Research presented at Hampden Park today will show the 488 participants who started the original trial three and a half years ago have managed to maintain a 2.5 per cent drop in their weight.
Men who took part in the Football Fans in Training (FFIT) initiative also continued to be more active, ate increased amounts of fruit and vegetables and improved their self-esteem.
A scheme to improve the fitness of football fans has had a long-term positive impact on their health.
The Football Fans in Training (FFIT) initiative was first piloted eight years ago in a link-up between The SPFL Trust, University of Glasgow and 13 professional clubs, with the goal of training men to help them achieve significant weight loss. Since then a highly-regarded women’s programme has been launched.
Long-term research presented at Hampden Park today will show that when it came to weight loss the 488 participants, who started the original trial three-and-a-half years ago continued to hold off much of their baseline weight, maintaining a 2.5 per cent drop.
Men also continued to be more active, ate increased amount of fruit and vegetables and improved their selfesteem during FFIT participation.
The 12- week free programme which was initially launched in 2011/12 targeted men aged 35-65 with a 38-inch waist or a 40-inch stomach.
The scheme aims to have participants achieve at least 45 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week.
Men and women get weekly exercise sessions, including football training at their respective professional club for 12 weeks and follow a personal pedometer-based walking programme.
Dr Cindy Gray, Senior Lecturer in Health Behaviour Change on behalf of the University of Glasgow, said: “FFIT has been shown to be successful in delivering the long-term weight, physical activity and dietary improvements that are essential to help people reduce their future risk of ill health.
“The fact that we found very little difference between men who took part in our research deliveries and those that took part in standard deliveries of FFIT, means there is no reason
to believe that people taking part in current and future deliveries can’t achieve the same excellent long-term results.”
Some of the participants have now set up their own football teams and play against other FFIT sides.
SPFL Trust Chief Executive Nicky Reid said: “This research demonstrates the significant health, social, and economic benefits behind FFIT.
“More importantly, as we’ve seen at today’s event, FFIT changes people’s lives. Behind every one of the thousands who have now been involved, there are countless stories as to how FFIT helped get folks to a place where they would want to be, physically and emotionally.
“We’re grateful to the Scottish Government for their ongoing financial support for FFIT, and to the University of Glasgow for the detailed work which underpins the programme.”
“This research demonstrates the significant health, social, and economic benefits behind FFIT. More importantly … it changes people’s lives” NICKY REID SPFL Trust Chief Executive
It’s our national game, but football is barely in credit with the people of Scotland. Eye-watering prices for replica strips and tickets, players who will readily roll around to feign injury, and corruption at the highest levels of the game. Twenty two millionaires chasing a white ball? No thanks, many people say.
But today we update on how football is actively changing lives one by one, by using its power with fans to encourage them to be healthier and stay healthier.
The Football Fans in Training (FFIT) initiative was first piloted eight years ago in a link-up between the SPFL Trust, the University of Glasgow and 13 professional clubs, with the goal of training men to help them achieve significant weight loss.
These are individuals who would never be seen dead at Slimming World. But invite them to weekly exercise sessions at their favourite club and huge numbers will apply.
Long-term research to be presented at Hampden Park today shows that it has worked not only in the short term, but these individuals are keeping the weight off.
Men also continued to be more active, ate increased amount of fruit and vegetables and improved their self-esteem during FFIT participation.
Such results prove that football can be an agent for real social change.
Following its initial success with men in Scotland, the FFIT programme has now been taken up by professional football clubs in England and Germany, and has been modified for other sports like rugby union in England and New Zealand, Aussie rules football and ice hockey in Canada.
Sport has a unique opportunity to reach out to Scotland’s communities in a way that nothing else can. We haven’t done enough with that potential but this is changing.
Clubs like Hibernian, led by their pioneering chief executive Leeann Dempster, have developed a public social partnership with the aim of tackling social inequality and delivering positive health, learning and social outcomes.
Put simply, many people feel far more comfortable in the football environment than in a council office or healthcare centre.
Football is turning around its image, and connecting with its fanbase like never before. And that is a move that can only benefit all parties.