Study protocol of European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) : a four-country randomised controlled trial of a lifestyle program for men delivered in elite football clubs

van Nassau, Femke and van der Ploeg, Hidde P. and Abrahamsen, Frank and Andersen, Eivind and Anderson, Annie S. and Bosmans, Judith E. and Bunn, Christopher and Chalmers, Matthew and Clissmann, Ciaran and Gill, Jason M. R. and Gray, Cindy M. and Hunt, Kate and Jelsma, Judith G.M. and La Guardia, Jennifer G. and Lemyre, Pierre N. and Loudon, David W. and Macaulay, Lisa and Maxwell, Douglas J. and McConnachie, Alex and Martin, Anne and Mourselas, Nikos and Mutrie, Nanette and Nijhuis-van der Sanden, Ria and O’Brien, Kylie and Pereira, Hugo V. and Philpott, Matthew and Roberts, Glyn C. and Rooksby, John and Rost, Mattias and Røynesdal, Øystein and Sattar, Naveed and Silva, Marlene N. and Sorensen, Marit and Teixeira, Pedro J. and Treweek, Shaun and van Achterberg, Theo and van de Glind, Irene and van Mechelen, Willem and Wyke, Sally (2016) Study protocol of European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) : a four-country randomised controlled trial of a lifestyle program for men delivered in elite football clubs. BMC Public Health, 16 (1). ISSN 1471-2458 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3255-y)

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Abstract

Background Lifestyle interventions targeting physical activity, sedentary time and dietary behaviours have the potential to initiate and support behavioural change and result in public health gain. Although men have often been reluctant to engage in such lifestyle programs, many are at high risk of several chronic conditions. We have developed an evidence and theory-based, gender sensitised, health and lifestyle program (European Fans in Training (EuroFIT)), which is designed to attract men through the loyalty they feel to the football club they support. This paper describes the study protocol to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the EuroFIT program in supporting men to improve their level of physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour over 12 months. Methods The EuroFIT study is a pragmatic, two-arm, randomised controlled trial conducted in 15 football clubs in the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the UK (England). One-thousand men, aged 30 to 65 years, with a self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m2 will be recruited and individually randomised. The primary outcomes are objectively-assessed changes in total physical activity (steps per day) and total sedentary time (minutes per day) at 12 months after baseline assessment. Secondary outcomes are weight, BMI, waist circumference, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardio-metabolic blood biomarkers, food intake, self-reported physical activity and sedentary time, wellbeing, self-esteem, vitality and quality of life. Cost-effectiveness will be assessed and a process evaluation conducted. The EuroFIT program will be delivered over 12 weekly, 90-minute sessions that combine classroom discussion with graded physical activity in the setting of the football club. Classroom sessions provide participants with a toolbox of behaviour change techniques to initiate and sustain long-term lifestyle changes. The coaches will receive two days of training to enable them to create a positive social environment that supports men in engaging in sustained behaviour change. Discussion The EuroFIT trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the EuroFIT program delivered by football clubs to their male fans, and will offer insight into factors associated with success in making sustained changes to physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and secondary outcomes, such as diet. Trial registration ISRCTN: 81935608. Registered 16 June 2015.

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