Three city-based football clubs that encourage overweight men to get fit and change their lifestyle choices have helped players shed almost 100 stone.  

Man V Fat football clubs are aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5.  

The idea was created by Andrew Shanahan, who was fed up with traditional weight loss classes that he felt were aimed at women.  

Norwich Evening News: The club has many success stories The club has many success stories (Image: Man V Fat)

Players are weighed before each game and are awarded extra goal bonuses based on their weight loss  

Trevor Holland, from Caister-on-Sea, who lost more than six-and-a-half stone with the help of MAN v FAT Football said: “Joining MAN v FAT football has definitely been the turnaround. 

“I feel that playing football is the reward for sticking to my diet all week and the amazing feeling stepping on the scales that you have lost again motivates you for the next week. 

“I have found hitting targets more realistic by setting small steps and smashing them often, as opposed to one big step or goal and getting disappointed if you don’t hit it quick enough.” 

Norwich Evening News: Players are weighed before each game and are given bonuses based on loss Players are weighed before each game and are given bonuses based on loss (Image: Man V Fat)

Dan Church, the regional manager for MAN v FAT in Norfolk, added: “We are extremely proud of the goals scored on and off the pitch by everyone involved at our Norwich clubs, 2022 was an incredible year for the programme in the city.” 

The three MAN v FAT Football clubs take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at Goals on Hall Road and The FDC in Bowthorpe, respectively.  

The Tuesday evening club at Goals is currently looking for new players and the programme’s organisers have extended an invitation to local men to get involved. 

The total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at over 500,000 pounds (37,500 stones).