Weighing his heaviest in December 2023, at 26st (165.5kg), Mike Palmer found that he couldn’t even climb the stairs without feeling out of breath. But it was his dad’s diagnosis with a life-threatening cancer that made Mike realise that something needed to change.
“My dad needed surgery to remove a tumor, but his weight made it too dangerous, so surgery wasn’t even discussed as an option,” Mike shared to Express.co.uk. “Watching him go through that was devastating, and it made me realise that I was heading down the same path.” Determined to make a change, Mike joined the Nuneaton MAN v FAT Football club – a football club for men who have a body mass index (BMI) of 27.50 or over.
Since joining MAN V FAT Football, Mike has dropped down from 24st (153kg) in February 2024 to 17st (107kg) 12 months later.
But that’s not Mike’s biggest achievement to date, because he’s motivated his dad to lose weight too. “Not only have I transformed my own health and the weight I’ve lost, but I’ve inspired my dad to lose 15kg as well,” he beamed.
“Because of that weight loss, surgery is now a potential option for him… that’s been one of the proudest achievements of my life – knowing that my journey hasn’t just helped me.”
Becoming a member of MAN V FAT Football has transformed Mike’s life for the better, and his dad’s. Mike said he’s feels a “sense of purpose” since joining the football club and has praised the “support system” he’s gained.
“Every week, I walk into that club and see men from all walks of life coming together to change their futures,” said Mike. “Personally, I’ve also found a lot of pride in inspiring others.”
Elaborating, Mike said: “Knowing that my weight loss journey has motivated guys in my club – and even my own dad – to push themselves is an incredible feeling.”
Feeling as though he’s made “life-long friends” from joining the community, Mike has also seen a shift in his mental health.
“One of the biggest changes has been in my mindset,” said Mike. “I now believe in myself in a way I never did before, and that confidence has spilled over into every area of my life.”
How MAN V Fat Football works
- Weigh in before each game to track your progress.
- You score points for weight loss and goals on the pitch.
- Lose weight, get fitter and improve your health.
- Team don’t win the league? You still lose weight. Result!
Around 8,500 men currently take part at more than 150 MAN v FAT Football clubs across the UK.
Designed for overweight and obese men with a BMI of above 27.5, at a typical MAN v FAT session, players are weighed, before battling it out on the pitch where results from matches combine with a player’s individual weight loss throughout a week. Individual weight loss results and scores on the pitch then contribute to a team’s position in a club’s overall league table.
In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness. Players also get free access to a bespoke mental health platform through MAN v FAT partners, JAAQ.
2025 will see MAN v FAT expand its offering with the launch of 10 new rugby-based weight loss clubs across the UK. The rugby clubs will follow MAN v FAT’s key principles, offering overweight and obese men the opportunity to lose weight at a sustainable pace, through weekly rugby, health, and wellbeing sessions.
