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Mansfield MP Coun Ben Bradley joined fellow MPs to take part in a football match against players and staff from MAN v FAT, a men’s health organisation which has already helped over 15,000 men across the UK tackle obesity.

MAN v FAT football clubs are specifically aimed at overweight and obese men with a BMI of higher than 27.5.

According to Health Survey for England statistics, about 28 per cent of adults in England are obese and a further 36.2 per cent are overweight, but not obese.

Prior to the game, Coun Bradley, also Nottinghamshire Council leader, heard how MAN v FAT currently has more than 8,000 players taking part in more than 170 clubs across the UK – with the total amount of weight lost by UK players standing at nearly 500,000 pounds.

Coun Ben Bradley, Mansfield MP, is no stranger to the football pitch.

Mansfield’s MAN v FAT club meets on Monday evenings at West Nottinghamshire College, although there is currently a waiting list for places.

Before matches, players are weighed, which is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on the amount of weight players have lost.

Weight loss and match scores then contribute to teams’ league positions within a club, while players receive additional support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.

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Coun Bradley said: “Pleased to support MAN v FAT, I was really interested to learn about the transformative effect the programme is having for so many men around the country.

“At a time when obesity is a real problem, it’s great these initiatives exist to bring people together through a common passion such as football and do such a great job nationally of motivating people to lose weight through sport.

“Although I had to play in outfield, instead of my usual role in goal, I’m glad we still won the game 6-5 and I’m looking forward to meeting the MAN v FAT team again in future for another game with UK Parliament FC.”

Richard Crick, head of MAN v FAT, said: “It was a great match played in good spirits and was a great opportunity for us to show the MPs the success MAN v FAT is having in improving levels of wellbeing and the difference the programme is making to players all around the country.”

Mansfield MP takes to the pitch to highlight success of football weight loss programme