Men’s Experiences with the Hockey Fans in Training Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle Program

Background: Increasing rates of chronic disease, especially in men, have led to an increased effort to implement lifestyle interventions focusing on healthy eating and physical activity. Men are underrepresented in lifestyle programs and some studies have observed that males prefer men-only programs that occur in the context of sports. This paper reviews men’s feedback regarding motivation for joining and overall experience in a 12-week lifestyle intervention in the context of junior level ice hockey teams. Methods: Men age 35-65 with a BMI ?28 were recruited from local ice hockey team fan bases in London and Sarnia Ontario, Canada and randomized to the 12-week lifestyle intervention or control group. Those who attended at least 6 of the 12 weekly sessions, including at least one session in the final six weeks (n=30) were asked to complete an online questionnaire upon finishing the active phase of the intervention. The questionnaire elicited reasons for joining the program, changes seen following their participation, and the usefulness of specific components of the program. Results: For the 27 men who completed the questionnaire, weight loss and a desire to increase physical activity were the two main reasons cited for joining the program. After the intervention, 100% of the men reported eating a healthier diet and 78% increased their activity level. Program satisfaction was high and 96% of men believed both the classroom and exercise components were useful. Conclusion: Our results support previous research showing increased levels of satisfaction in men when lifestyle interventions are run in...

The detriments of unmet sexual ideals and buffering effect of sexual communal strength.

Despite the importance of sex for the maintenance of satisfying romantic relationships, our understanding of a person’s sexual ideals—the traits and attributes a person desires in a sexual partner or experience—and what might buffer against lower satisfaction associated with unmet sexual ideals is limited. Across four studies including cross-sectional, dyadic, longitudinal, and experimental methods (N = 1,532), we draw on the Ideal Standards Model and theories of communal motivation to examine whether unmet sexual ideals are associated with lower sexual satisfaction and relationship quality and test whether higher sexual communal strength—the motivation to meet a partner’s sexual needs—buffered these effects. Across studies, when individuals perceived their partner to fall short in meeting their sexual ideals, they reported poorer sexual and relationship quality. People with partners low in sexual communal strength reported poorer sexual satisfaction and relationship quality when their sexual ideals were unmet, but these associations were attenuated among people with partners who were high in sexual communal strength. Perceived partner responsiveness—both in general (Study 2) and to a partner’s sexual needs specifically (Study 3)—was one reason why people with partners high in sexual communal strength were buffered against the lower sexual and relational quality associated with unmet ideals

Impact of Hockey Fans in Training Program on Steps and Self-rated Health in Overweight Men

Football Fans in Training (FFIT) is an effective, gender-sensitized, weight loss and healthy living program for overweight/obese men, delivered via professional football clubs. Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) is a new program adapted from FFIT for Canadian hockey. PURPOSE: To examine the impact of Hockey FIT on steps, self-esteem, mood, and self-rated health, 12 weeks after baseline (post program). METHODS: 80 male fans [35-65 years; body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m2] of 2 Ontario Junior A hockey clubs were randomized to either intervention (Hockey FIT) or comparator (wait-list control), within a pilot, pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT). Hockey FIT involved 12 weekly, 90-minute group sessions delivered by trained coaches using club facilities. Each session combined classroom material, including evidence- based behaviour change techniques (e.g., self-monitoring, goal setting) and healthy eating advice (e.g., reducing portion size), with physical activity sessions. Prescriptive exercise (e.g., individualized target heart rates and pedometer-based incremental step targets) was incorporated throughout. We examined between-group differences in mean steps/day (7-day pedometer monitoring), self-esteem (Rosenberg scale), positive and negative affect (I-PANAS-SF scale), and self-rated health (EQ-5D-3L VAS score) using linear mixed effects regression models that accounted for club and age. RESULTS: Groups were similar at baseline [median (interquartile range): age: 48.0 (17.0) years; BMI: 35.1 (6.3) kg/m2]. 75% of men in the intervention group attended ≥ 6 sessions. At 12 weeks, the intervention group increased their daily steps to a greater extent than the comparator [difference between groups in mean change: 3127 (95% confidence interval: 1882 to 4372) steps/day, p <0.001]. The intervention group also improved their self-rated health (scale 0 to 100; 100 = best) to a greater extent than the comparator [difference between groups in mean change: 7.0 (2.1 to 11.9) points, p = 0.005]. There were no differences between groups in self-esteem or positive/negative affect post program. CONCLUSION: Hockey FIT has the potential to help overweight/obese men increase their physical activity levels and improve their self-rated health. Long-term follow-up and a full-scale pragmatic RCT is warranted

Can a Sports Team-based Lifestyle Program (Hockey Fans In Training) Improve Weight In Overweight Men?

The issue of gender is often neglected when planning and implementing chronic disease prevention and management strategies. Football Fans in Training (FFIT) — a gender-sensitized, weight loss and healthy living program for men delivered via professional football clubs — has been shown to be highly effective in helping overweight/obese men lose weight and improve their health risk. PURPOSE: To examine the potential for new male-friendly, physical activity and healthy living program — Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) — to help overweight/obese men decrease their weight, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI), after 12 weeks. METHODS: A pilot, pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) whereby male fans (35-65 years; BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) of 2 Junior A hockey clubs (Ontario, Canada) were randomized to either the intervention (Hockey FIT) or comparator (wait-list control). Hockey FIT involved 12 weekly, 90-minute group sessions delivered by trained coaches using club facilities. Each session combined classroom activities, including evidence- based behaviour change techniques (e.g., self-monitoring, goal setting) and healthy eating advice (e.g., reducing portions), with physical activity training. Lifestyle prescriptions, including incremental step count targets, were also prescribed each week. We examined between-group differences in mean weight loss, WC, and BMI using linear mixed effects regression models that accounted for club and age. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups [total N = 80, median (interquartile range) — i) age: 48.0 (17.0) years; ii) weight: 112.2 (23.2) kg; iii) WC: 119.3 (13.5) cm; iv) BMI: 35.1 (6.3) kg/m2]. Of the 40 men in the Hockey FIT group, 30 (75%) attended at least 6 sessions. At 12 weeks, the Hockey FIT group lost more weight than the control group [difference between groups in mean weight change (control is reference): -3.6 (95% confidence interval: -5.2 to -1.9) kg, p<0.001]. The Hockey FIT group also saw greater reductions in WC and BMI, when compared to the control group [difference between groups in mean i) WC: -2.8 (-5.0 to -0.6) cm, p=0.01; ii) BMI: -0.9 (-1.4 to -0.4) kg/m2, p<0.001]. CONCLUSION: Hockey FIT has the potential to help overweight/obese men lose weight and improve health risk. A definite RCT is warranted with long-term follow-up

Can a Sports Team-based Lifestyle Program (Hockey Fans In Training) Improve Weight In Overweight Men?

The issue of gender is often neglected when planning and implementing chronic disease prevention and management strategies. Football Fans in Training (FFIT) — a gender-sensitized, weight loss and healthy living program for men delivered via professional football clubs — has been shown to be highly effective in helping overweight/obese men lose weight and improve their health risk. PURPOSE: To examine the potential for new male-friendly, physical activity and healthy living program — Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) — to help overweight/obese men decrease their weight, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI), after 12 weeks. METHODS: A pilot, pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) whereby male fans (35-65 years; BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) of 2 Junior A hockey clubs (Ontario, Canada) were randomized to either the intervention (Hockey FIT) or comparator (wait-list control). Hockey FIT involved 12 weekly, 90-minute group sessions delivered by trained coaches using club facilities. Each session combined classroom activities, including evidence- based behaviour change techniques (e.g., self-monitoring, goal setting) and healthy eating advice (e.g., reducing portions), with physical activity training. Lifestyle prescriptions, including incremental step count targets, were also prescribed each week. We examined between-group differences in mean weight loss, WC, and BMI using linear mixed effects regression models that accounted for club and age. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups [total N = 80, median (interquartile range) — i) age: 48.0 (17.0) years; ii) weight: 112.2 (23.2) kg; iii) WC: 119.3 (13.5) cm; iv) BMI: 35.1 (6.3) kg/m2]. Of the 40 men in the Hockey FIT group, 30 (75%) attended at least 6 sessions. At 12 weeks, the Hockey FIT group lost more weight than the control group [difference between groups in mean weight change (control is reference): -3.6 (95% confidence interval: -5.2 to -1.9) kg, p<0.001]. The Hockey FIT group also saw greater reductions in WC and BMI, when compared to the control group [difference between groups in mean i) WC: -2.8 (-5.0 to -0.6) cm, p=0.01; ii) BMI: -0.9 (-1.4 to -0.4) kg/m2, p<0.001]. CONCLUSION: Hockey FIT has the potential to help overweight/obese men lose weight and improve health risk. A definite RCT is warranted with long-term follow-up