PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Petrella, Robert AU - Majoni, Melissa AU - Kfrerer, Marisa AU - Silva, Narlon Boa Sorte AU - Adekoya, Precious AU - Riggin, Brendan AU - Blunt, Wendy AU - Gill, Dawn AU - Bliss, Brooke AU - DiNunzio, Matthew AU - Aspinall, Paul AU - Irwin, Jennifer TI - Recruitment and characteristics of men with overweight/obesity from a trial of a gender-sensitized healthy lifestyle program AID - 10.1370/afm.22.s1.4779 DP - 2023 Nov 01 TA - The Annals of Family Medicine PG - 4779 VI - 21 IP - Supplement 3 4099 - http://www.annfammed.org/content/21/Supplement_3/4779.short 4100 - http://www.annfammed.org/content/21/Supplement_3/4779.full SO - Ann Fam Med2023 Nov 01; 21 AB - Context: Engaging men in chronic disease prevention is critical as rates of obesity in men continue to increase, coupled with men being less likely to proactively seek preventative health care services.Objective: To report on the recruitment and baseline characteristics of a healthy lifestyle program using the power of sport (hockey) to engage men.Study Design and Analysis: Cluster randomized controlled trial where 42 sites were randomly assigned to either the intervention or wait-list control group. The intervention group received the Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) program (3-month active phase; 9-month minimally-supported phase) while the control group continued with usual activities for 12 months.Setting: Sites were located across 40 cities in Canada and the U.S., selected based on the availability/interest of both a local major junior/professional hockey team and an implementation partner.Population Studied: Men aged 35-65 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m2 and who were fans of the local hockey team. Participants were recruited through the hockey team (i.e., social media, email blasts, website) and using other traditional recruitment methods.Intervention: Hockey FIT is a gender-sensitized, off-ice, healthy lifestyle program, designed to appeal to hockey fans through support from their local team and based on men’s preferences (e.g., group-based competition, humour, being with like-minded and -sized men).Outcome Measures: In-person assessments (weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, fitness) and online questionnaires (physical activity, sedentary time, healthy eating, health-related quality of life, and demographics) were completed at baseline, 3, and 12 months. Accelerometry-based step counters were also used to measure steps over 7 days at each time point.Results: 1,397 individuals were assessed for eligibility and 997 men were enrolled. Most participants heard about Hockey FIT through social media and team email blasts (41% and 29%, respectively). Participants averaged 48.6 years of age (± 8.3 SD), had mean BMI values of 35.3 kg/m2 (± 6.1), were predominately white, and had varying levels of education.Conclusions: By partnering with local hockey teams, we were able to engage men in a healthy lifestyle program. While participants were among the target audience intended for the study, targeted recruitment is needed to attract more diverse populations.