Sports Settings may Help Engage Men in Weight Loss

Sports-themed weight loss program may increase physical activity in Australian men, finds a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal PLOS Medicine. Men in Australia are more likely than women to be obese, yet they are underrepresented in weight loss trials.

To understand the feasibility and efficacy of this sports-themed weight loss program targeted towards men, researchers recruited 130 men with overweight or obesity between the ages of 35-65. The participants were then randomly assigned to either a control group or a group that took part in the weight loss intervention of 12 weekly 90 minute sessions designed to promote physical activity, healthy eating, and weight loss. While results suggest the intervention group had greater weight loss, the study was limited by the lack of data on individual session attendance, a high number of participants unreachable when contacted for follow-up on post-study results, and an unrepresentative sample comprised mostly of men of White ethnicity.

Research suggests that sports programs may be an effective way to engage men in physical activity and weight loss, yet few studies have analyzed the feasibility and efficacy of implementing these programs. The current study's preliminary cost-effectiveness evaluation suggests that the program they piloted may be inexpensive, cost-effective, and associated with increased physical activity and weight loss among participants.

According to the authors, "The pilot findings may be generalizable to delivery of the intervention in other professional sports settings in Australia, and broader implementation may be better achieved by capitalizing on rollouts of the program in lower-level state-based leagues, and via adaptations to other sports."

Source-Eurekalert