A FOOTBALL club which promotes ways in which men can beat the bulge has helped 18 people shed 120 pounds in just four months.
Established in 2016, the MAN v FAT programme is focused on helping men tackle obesity with 100 separate clubs across the UK.
Players are weighed before 30-minute matches, with weight loss rewarding bonus goals.
It comes after Public Health England published data earlier this year which suggests that around 70 per cent of adults in Barnsley are overweight, placing it among the top 20 in the country.
Coach Callum Tingle, whose 18-man squad train at Honeywell Sports Village on Tuesday evenings, said: “We’re so proud of the progress made by the players and the wider team at our Barnsley club.
“The men involved are genuinely changing their lives for the better by improving their physical and mental health, while making new friends and having fun in the process.
“MAN v FAT isn’t a lose-fat-fast programme, we encourage body positivity and losing weight at a healthy, sustainable pace.
“While weight loss is the key goal for players, the programme is perfect for men who want to get back into playing football after a period of time away from the game and improve their fitness gradually.”
Beyond football, players receive healthy meal recipes, tips on general fitness and full access to an online gym, which has led to a total weight loss of 550,000 pounds since the programme began.
The club is currently looking for new players – if you are interested more information can be found at www.manvfatfootball.org/barnsley.
