A Scottish chef who joined a healthy lifestyle programme shed almost two stone while also giving his mental health a much-needed boost.
Dean Bowman, who has depression, shed over 12kg with the help of Man v Fat, a weekly meet-up for amateur footballers that also gives players advice and support to keep their brains in tip-top shape. The Edinburgh man said he used to comfort himself with food but had learned to find joy in exercise and looking after himself.
He told our sister site Edinburgh Live: "The realisation that my depression and unhappiness was caused by overeating pushed me to lose weight. My life's solution was always comfort eating to feel happier and I had to finally break the cycle, improve my health and how my life was being affected by being overweight."
After realising he had to make a change, Dean joined Man v Fat, which targets men with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 27.5 – considered by the NHS to be "overweight" and at risk of obesity. Since launching in 2018, more than 8,500 members meet weekly to play football and talk across the UK.
Before each game, players are weighed, with extra goal bonuses given to the teams based on their members' weight loss after a half-hour game of six-a-side. The Edinburgh club launched in 2020.
Dean added: "It kept me on track to focus on better eating and a healthier lifestyle, and using that to contribute to the weekly football games itself with the goal system they use. My life has changed massively.
"I feel better, happier, have more confidence and feel I can venture into other sports and activities I would have previously not had the confidence or opportunity to do. Despite the great support out there, men's health is still a bit of a taboo subject for some men, especially body image and mental health.
"If more people join the club, more men get help with improving their health and their lives. There's nothing to lose apart from the weight itself.
"The confidence and happiness it brings you is second to none, not everyone is a gym goer or can have the time to make healthy food but any weight loss can be achieved by just taking the smallest steps - you just need to take that first step."
Post-match, players also get support with meal plans and tips on maintaining general fitness, as well as virtual training plans so they can keep fit at home, in their own time.
Kris Kumari, who runs the Man v Fat Edinburgh branch, said: "Man v Fat allows men to express themselves, there's a common goal and a community. Players share a journey together."
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