Team spirit may help men lose weight

By Shereen Jegtvig NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Men who took part in a weight loss program designed specifically for male soccer fans lost an average of 12 pounds (5 kg) and had a good time doing it, according to a new study from Scotland. The 12-week Football Fans in Training (FFIT) program, run by coaching staffs from 13 Scottish Professional Football League teams, combined advice on healthy diet with physical activity and team regalia. “We thought there was an urgent need to develop weight management programs that were designed specifically for men in settings in which they would feel comfortable,” Sally Wyke told Reuters Health. A member of the study team, Wyke is deputy director of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow.