MAN v FAT, a pioneering weight loss organisation, is operating across Essex to help men improve their health and fitness through the power of football.

Designed specifically for men looking to lose weight in a supportive and team-based environment, MAN v FAT combines the love of football with a focus on healthy weight loss, creating a programme where participants can work together to achieve their fitness goals.

Their target is to help as many men as possible lose weight and improve their overall wellbeing using the power of sport. MAN v FAT are currently running sessions across Essex, making it easier for men from different areas to participate. Their operating groups in Essex include:

* Group 1: Colchester, Colchester (Shrub End), Tendring (Clacton)
* Group 2: Chelmsford, Harlow
* Group 3: Basildon, Southend (Castle Point, potentially, in 2025)
* Group 4: Havering (Romford), Waltham Forest (Leyton), Barking & Dagenham

MAN v FAT addresses a critical need for men’s health, especially around weight loss, by offering a unique environment where participants can lose weight in a fun, motivating way. Many men find it challenging to lose weight on their own, and MAN v FAT provides a solution by combining teamwork, football and structured weight-loss support. The programme focuses on improving both physical and mental wellbeing through sport.

Over 250 men are currently participating in MAN v FAT sessions, weekly, across Essex, and 98 players have lost more than 5% of their body weight. To put that into context, 98 players represent close to around four full Premier League squads, as each team registers around 25 players for the season. In 2023, collectively, participants lost a total of 1,001kg of weight, and the biggest individual weight loss in Essex is an impressive 52kg (42% of their body weight).

Visit the MAN v FAT website to sign-up. For additional information about grassroots football playing opportunities in Essex, and future competitions, browse the menus above, follow @EssexCountyFA on X and search for the ‘EssexFootball’ page on Facebook.