Poster presentation outlining results of the University of Gloucestershire's Active Fans project - investigating sports fans' preferences for health improvement programmes

1. Characteristics of Sports Fans in Relation to Lifestyle
Preferences
Dr. Elizabeth A. Loughren, Dr. Colin Baker, Joseph W. Spry and Dr. Orla Flannery
University of Gloucestershire, UK
Aim
Rationale
To assess physical activity, health and well-being preferences of football, rugby, cricket and horseracing fans.
Targeting sport fans provides a unique means of engaging people in healthy lifestyle programmes but more evidence is needed concerning
how to support participants’ sustained attendance.
Background
 In the UK, the proportion who are categorised as obese
increased from 13% of men (1993) to 24% (2012) and from
16% of women (1993) to 25% (2012), and it is predicted that
60% of adult men and 50% of adult women will be classified
as obese by 2050 (1, 2)
 Costs attributable to obesity are projected to reach £9.7
billion per year by 2050 (3)
 Only 36% of adults participate in 30 minutes of moderate
intensity sport once a week (2)
 There is an increasing focus on strategies that seek to
promote health through sport and physical activity (4)
 Sports club settings provide a potential means of engaging
sports fans via multidisciplinary community based health
promotion strategies (5, 6)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Physical
Activity
Weight
Management
Preferred programme subjects (%) Female (%)
Smoking
Cessation
Heart Health Dietary
Advice
Alcohol
Advice
Mental
Health and
Stress
Health
Check
Male (%)
Overall (%)
All of the
Above
Methods
Participant Recruitment
 A purposive and opportunistic sample of fans from England
and sport types (football, rugby union, rugby league, cricket
and horse racing) was established.
Survey
 An online survey through sports team websites, forums,
online newsletters, social media, and gate surveys in
conjunction with match and race day events was conducted
between April-December 2013.
Results
 Of the 246 total responses 172 (70%) (n = 117 males, 55
females) ranging in age from 18-69 (M=34.43; SD=13.48)
indicated an interest in joining a healthy lifestyle
programme geared around sport fans.
 Overall most fans (92.4%) felt support from players/sport
professionals would attract them to the programme.
 Males placed more emphasis on heart health, mental health
and stress.
 Respondents indicated that key programme components
should include: physical activity; weight management;
heart health; diet, and health checks.
 The majority of the respondents owned a smart phone and
agreed an app could support them to become healthier.
 While cost and a lack of time were cited as the main
barriers, respondents felt their family, friends, and local
facilities could assist most in leading a healthier lifestyle.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Perceived programme barriers (%) Female (%)
*
Cost Too Little Time Family
Commitments
*
Transport to
Course
Work
Commitments
Not have
someone to go
with
Male (%)
Overall (%)
My Health
16%
15%
4%
5%
13%
7%
* P < 0.05
7%
19%
14%
Perceived utility of mobile app technology
Dietary Advice
Motivation
Stop Smoking
Mental Health and Stress
Being More Active
Compare Self With Others
Record of Achievement
Alcohol Intake
Look After Weight
Conclusions
 Sport fans are interested in participating in
healthy lifestyle programmes at local sport
facilities and perceive the following as key
sources of support:
 Family
 Friends
 Mobile technology
 These findings could help shape the
development of healthy lifestyle programmes
targeting specific social groups.
Contact: i4h@glos.ac.uk
References:
1. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care. (2013). Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet - England, 2013. Leeds: Information Centre for Health and Social Care. Available at: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB10364
2. Pringle, A., Zwolinsky, S., Daly-Smith, A., Robertson, S., McKenna, J. & White, A. (2011). The pre-adoption demographic and health profiles of men participating in a programme of men’s health delivered in English Premier League football clubs. Public Health, 125(7), 411-416.
2. Pringle, A., Zwolinsky, S., McKenna, J., Daly-Smith, A., Robertson, S. & White, A. (2013). Effect of a national programme of men’s health delivered in English Premier League football clubs. Public Health, 127(1), 18-26.
3. Robertson, S., Zwolinsky, S., Pringle, A., McKenna, J., Daly-Smith, A. & White, A. (2013). It is fun, fitness and football really’: A process evaluation of a football-based health intervention for men. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 5(3). doi /abs/10.1080/2159676X.2013.831372#.UqhGctJdVEI
4. WHO (2011). Promoting sport and enhancing health in European Union countries: a policy content analysis to support action. Geneva: WHO. Retrieved from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/147237/e95168.pdf
5. Department of Health. (2011). UK physical activity guidelines. London: HMSO.
6. Health Survey for England (2012). Leeds: Health and Social Care Information Centre.