The effect of a programme to improve men’s sedentary time and physical activity: The European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) randomised controlled trial

Sally Wyke, Christopher Bunn, Eivind Andersen, Marlene N Silva, Femke van Nassau, Paula McSkimming, Spyros Kolovos, Jason M R Gill, Cindy M Gray, Kate Hunt, Annie S Anderson, Judith Bosmans, Judith G M Jelsma, Sharon Kean, Nicolas Lemyre, David W Loudon, Lisa Macaulay, Douglas J Maxwell, Alex McConnachie, Nanette Mutrie, Maria Nijhuis- van der Sanden, Hugo V Pereira, Matthew Philpott, Glyn C Roberts, John Rooksby, Øystein B Røynesdal, Naveed Sattar, Marit Sørensen, Pedro J Teixeira, Shaun Treweek, Theo van Achterberg, Irene van de Glind, Willem van Mechelen and Hidde P van der Ploeg

PLOS Medicine, 2019, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-25

Abstract: Background: Reducing sitting time as well as increasing physical activity in inactive people is beneficial for their health. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) programme to improve physical activity and sedentary time in male football fans, delivered through the professional football setting. Methods and findings: A total of 1,113 men aged 30–65 with self-reported body mass index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m2 took part in a randomised controlled trial in 15 professional football clubs in England, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal. Recruitment was between September 19, 2015, and February 2, 2016. Participants consented to study procedures and provided usable activity monitor baseline data. They were randomised, stratified by club, to either the EuroFIT intervention or a 12-month waiting list comparison group. Follow-up measurement was post-programme and 12 months after baseline. EuroFIT is a 12-week, group-based programme delivered by coaches in football club stadia in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions. Weekly sessions aimed to improve physical activity, sedentary time, and diet and maintain changes long term. A pocket-worn device (SitFIT) allowed self-monitoring of sedentary time and daily steps, and a game-based app (MatchFIT) encouraged between-session social support. Primary outcome (objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity) measurements were obtained for 83% and 85% of intervention and comparison participants. Intention-to-treat analyses showed a baseline-adjusted mean difference in sedentary time at 12 months of −1.6 minutes/day (97.5% confidence interval [CI], −14.3–11.0; p = 0.77) and in step counts of 678 steps/day (97.5% CI, 309–1.048; p

Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pmed00:1002736

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002736

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