28 Jan Weight Loss Healthy Living Program for Men

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Professor Sally Wyke
Deputy Director, Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Professor (Institute of Health and Wellbeing Social Sciences)
The University of Glasgow

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Prof. Wyke: The FFIT programme was very effective.  The men who did the programme lost nine times as much weight as the men who did not.  On average, they lost over 5.5kg  (11lbs)and kept it off for the full 12 months.

In addition, we found highly significant differences in favour of the intervention objectively-measured waist, percentage body-fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and self-reported physical activity, diet and indicators of well-being and physical aspects of quality of life.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Prof. Wyke: Although none of these findings were unexpected we were really delighted with the extent to which the programme worked to improve outcomes across the board.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Prof. Wyke: Too often we have slipped into thinking that men are not really interested in their health or their bodies.  FFIT is a really good example to show that men can be just as motivated as women to make positive changes to their health if programmes can be designed to appeal to them.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Prof. Wyke: We are already undertaking further research to consider whether elements of the programme are adaptable for delivery in European Football Clubs, in secure institutions and in rugby union football clubs in the UK.  We think it’s really important to evaluate how weight loss can be maintained in the long term and that other, innovative programmes be rigorously developed and evaluated to the same standard.

Citation:

A gender-sensitised weight loss and healthy living programme for overweight and obese men delivered by Scottish Premier League football clubs (FFIT): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Prof Kate Hunt PhD,Prof Sally Wyke PhD,Cindy M Gray PhD,Prof Annie S Anderson PhD,Adrian Brady MD,Christopher Bunn PhD,Prof Peter T Donnan PhD,Prof Elisabeth Fenwick PhD,Eleanor Grieve MPH,Jim Leishman BSc,Euan Miller MA,Prof Nanette Mutrie PhD,Petra Rauchhaus BSc,Alan White PhD,Prof Shaun Treweek PhD
The Lancet – 21 January 2014
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62420-4

Last Updated on January 28, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD