A nationwide football programme that has helped men tackle obesity across the UK, will kick off for the first time in Carlisle next month.
The six-a-side football club, organised by MAN v FAT Football, will take place on Monday nights at the Carlisle Campus Sports in Edgehill Road from August 9.
The programme is specifically aimed at overweight and obese men with a BMI of higher than 27.5.
According to Public Health England figures, around 62.7 per cent of those aged over 18 in Carlisle are classed as overweight or obese or potentially as many as 55,000 adults.
MAN v FAT, an FA-affiliated scheme, currently has 5,200 players taking part in nearly 90 leagues 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 more than 317,000 pounds, organisers said.
Before matches, the players are weighed, which is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on the amount of weight players have lost.
Players receive additional support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.
Richard Crick, head of MAN v FAT, says: “We’re delighted to be expanding our programme to Carlisle following many successful years of helping men lose weight and improve their lifestyle elsewhere in the North West.
“MAN v FAT isn’t just about losing weight, it’s about enjoying sport in a safe, friendly environment, learning about healthy lifestyle and diet – and making new friends. We have spaces for new players in Carlisle and we’ll be with them every step of the way.”
Players can join up at www.manvfat.com/football
