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RESEARCH


TARGETING MEN’S HEALTH THROUGH SPORT


PREMIER LEAGUE HEALTH A


collaboration between Leeds Metropolitan University’s Centre for Men’s Health and


the Carnegie Research Institute, Premier League Health is a national programme of men’s health delivered through 16 Premier League football clubs. The three-year programme


What does the Premier League Health programme consist of? Activities are led by staff trained in health enhancement who are employed by the clubs. Activities include awareness-raising events on match days for supporters, pro- grammes of weekly activities and sustained outreach work with groups of local men. One element of the pro- gramme at Newcastle United involves linking with men from the South Asian community in Newcastle’s west end, in particular men employed in the fast food takeaway and taxi indus- tries. Knowing that this group of men has a heightened risk of cardiovascu- lar disease, health trainers run a local programme of badminton supported with health advice delivered in local community venues. To fit in with the work routines of these men, sessions are run between midnight and 2am.


What is so good about delivering health activities through football clubs? Initial findings show that Premier League Health (PLH) provides an infor- mal and supportive environment to engage men, including those not meet- ing health guidelines and not likely to visit their GP


. Our research found


that fewer than 20 per cent of men reported taking part in sufficient phys- ical activity to benefit health, while over a quarter smoked and almost half exceeded recommended limits for alcohol consumption. Fewer than 10 per cent visited their GP regularly, so taking part in PLH provided par-


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is funded by the Football Pools and aims to improve the health of men aged 18-35 years through a range of activities delivered within a football context. Jim McKenna, Professor of Physical Activity and Health at Leeds Metropolitan University, answers some questions about the project:


ticipants with a means of receiving support with lifestyle issues. However the impact of the programme tends to be much broader than improvements in areas such as weight and blood pressure. The programmes run by clubs such as Manchester United aim to help unemployed men get back into work, for example.


Is it only supporters of the football clubs involved who take part? No, a quarter of the men were not fans of the club where they attended the interventions. This emphasises the broader reach of football in con- necting with men on health issues.


What are the strongest features of the programme? Our research found that tailoring activi- ties to the needs of men is important. The oldest participant is 75 and attends the programme at Fulham. For this gentleman, playing football was not appropriate, so the staff prepared a programme of physical activity that was more suitable for him. All of the clubs are able to offer examples of men who have engaged the programme and flourished. An important ingredient is the ability of health trainers and staff deliver- ing the programme to listen, plan and cater for men with diverse needs. Staff are not only helping men with poor health, but also those impacted by unemployment, family breakdown and substance use. Programmes are delivered in collaboration with local


Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital


A final report into the Premier League Health programme will be published by the end of 2012


partners, including PCTs, who pro- vide opportunities for onward referral to specialist health services. The pro- gramme provided an opportunity for some men to confirm their health sta- tus and validate going to see their GP before it was too late.


What are the wider implications for the leisure industry? Sporting and leisure contexts pro- vide an alternative channel to reach men with health interventions. Sports clubs, spectator sports and venues such as comedy clubs offer an infor- mal setting. Interventions can be accessed in social groups; this helps remove some of the perceived risk associated with engagement. Given that social support is an


important element of changing health behaviours, leisure settings provide an arena where interventions may be developed. Activities delivered in a community environment at times which are more convenient may be more appealing to some men than tradi- tional healthcare environments. l


ISSUE 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012


PHOTO ©SHUTTERSTOCK/ RTIMAGES


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