A group of men have shed more than 150 pounds by taking part in a MAN v FAT programme at Gateshead International Stadium.
The 14 weekly sessions take place on Friday's from 7pm, running in collaboration with the Active Through Football Campaign put together by Gateshead Council.
The MAN v FAT club is currently taking on new players, with men in participating postcodes in the area able to apply for a free 14-week season with the programme.
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Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5, MAN v FAT has more than 8,000 players in over 150 clubs in the UK. Before matches, players are weighed, followed by a 30 minute game of six-a-side football, with bonuses given to teams with the highest weight loss.
Jordan Aitken has lost over one and a half stone (21 pounds) in just nine weeks through participating in the programme, and he has spoken about what it has been like for him so far.
"The thing I most like about MAN v FAT Football is playing weekly football again," he said. "I can feel my fitness getting better and better by the week, while losing weight.
“I would definitely encourage other men from the local area to participate, it has helped me so much with weight loss. I have met a great bunch of lads who spur each other on with the health side, while having a great laugh at the same time.
“The social aspect is great, it gives me a reason to go and exercise with friends instead of coming home from work and watching TV all evening.
“My starting weight at the beginning of the season was 17 stone and six pounds, having two toddlers and me and my partner both working full time I fell into a routine of eating convenient and processed foods. Since dieting and tracking food properly, I am down to 15 stone 13 pound after only nine weeks.
“MAN v FAT has changed my lifestyle for the better, I have a lot more energy throughout the day and for my boys."
