A Huntingdonshire football club that encourages overweight and obese men to get fit and adopt healthy lifestyle choices helped local men lose 200kg (500 pounds) of weight in 2023.

MAN v FAT Football St Neots takes place every Sunday evening from 7pm at St Neots Town Football Club. More information about the club and how to sign-up can be found via https://www.manvfatfootball.org/stneots

At the start of a MAN v FAT Football session, players are weighed to monitor their weight loss progress across a week. 30-minute games of six-a-side football then take place with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their weight loss. 

A team’s combined weight loss and match scores then contribute to its league position within a club.

Chris Regan who has lost four and a half stone with the help of the St Neots club, said: “I really enjoy the relaxed environment at MAN v FAT Football, plus everybody is there for similar reasons.

“Being quite competitive I love contributing to my team both on and off the pitch, I think being in teams and competing helps bring people together and encourages you to help each other. 

“There are people with such a range of playing backgrounds and abilities in the group. We have had players come that have played to a high standard and some players that had never played before. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging, it’s worth giving it a shot!

“Before joining MAN v FAT, I thought I was probably past playing football, despite having enjoyed it as a kid.

“I had fallen out of love with it. But MAN v FAT has rekindled that joy and now I’m playing more and more.

“I have made new friends through MAN v FAT, which has been great. We have a team WhatsApp group where we share meal ideas and what’s been working well for each of us. 

“Being more physically active has helped me while playing and looking after my two young children.

“Being able to run with them or play with them a bit more after losing some weight has been amazing and helped me gain so much confidence.”

Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5, MAN v FAT Football has more than 8,000 players taking part in over 150 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 over 605,000 pounds.

MAN v FAT Football head of football, Richard Crick, said: “The weight lost by the men at our St Neots club is testament to the sheer hard work and determination shown by the players taking part and our incredible coaching team, who lead the programme in the area.

“While the main aim of the programme is to help men lose weight, MAN v FAT is about so much more than that.

“Lifelong friendships are formed at our clubs and thousands of players across the UK have benefited from an improvement in their mental wellbeing, as well as their physical health. 

“The programme is perfect for men who want to get back into playing football but might initially feel nervous about doing so due to their fitness levels. We encourage non-judgmental behaviour, body positivity and losing weight at a healthy, sustainable pace.”

In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players also receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness. Players also get full access to MAN v FAT online gym, so they can train in their own time at home.

To find your closest MAN v FAT Football club, visit: https://www.manvfatfootball.org/Leagues/FindALeague