RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The impact of Hockey Fans in Training on physical activity and sedentary time in men with overweight or obesity
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 6743
DO 10.1370/afm.22.s1.6743
VO 22
IS Supplement 1
A1 Petrella, Robert
YR 2024
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/22/Supplement_1/6743.abstract
AB Context: In Canadian adults, 45% meet physical activity (PA) recommendations and average sedentary time is 9.8 hours/day. Since men are less likely than women to participate in health promotion programs, innovative approaches targeted to men are needed.Objective: To determine the impact of the Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) gender-sensitized health promotion program on PA and sedentary time in men with overweight or obesity.Study Design and Analysis: Pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial; 42 sites were randomly assigned to intervention (i.e., Hockey FIT) or wait-list control (i.e., usual activities for 12 months). Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze data and account for clustering effects.Setting: Sites in Canada and the U.S. were selected based on partnerships with local major junior/professional hockey teams and implementation partners (e.g., YMCAs).Population Studied: Men aged 35-65 years with a body mass index ≥27 kg/m2, recruited primarily through the local hockey team’s communications channels.Intervention: Hockey FIT is a group-based education and exercise program, designed to appeal to hockey fans through the power of sport fandom. Hockey FIT included a 3-month active phase (12 weekly, 90-minute sessions led by certified coaches) and a 9-month minimally supported phase.Outcome Measures: Assessments were completed at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 12 months (T2). Accelerometry-based step counters (New Lifestyles NL-800) were used to track steps over 7 days resulting in the outcome of average steps/day. Participants also completed online questionnaires including the Marshall Sitting Questionnaire (total time spent sitting on a weekday).Results: Participants (n=997) averaged 48.6 years of age (± 8.3 SD) and had mean BMI values at T0 of 35.3 kg/m2 (± 6.1). At T1, the difference between groups in mean steps/day was 1306.7 (95% CI: 847.2, 1766.2), favouring Hockey FIT. By T2, this difference remained [1173.5 steps/day (95% CI: 632.0, 1714.9)]. Hockey FIT also had a greater reduction in sitting time (vs. control) at T1 [difference between groups: -94.3 min/day (95% CI: -138.7, -49.9)] but this difference was not sustained to T2 [-32.7 min/day (95% CI: -81.5, 16.1)].Conclusions: A sport-fandom based lifestyle program (Hockey FIT) led to increased PA and decreased sedentary time in middle-aged men with overweight and obesity. Future research should explore how reductions in sedentary time can be sustained over time.