Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT): A Pilot Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT): A Pilot Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of an Exercise and Healthy Living Program for Middle-aged, Overweight and Obese Men

The Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) program aims to improve overweight men's physical fitness, eating habits and health-related lifestyle choices through a lifestyle modification program in collaboration with two Ontario Hockey League teams. In this pilot pragmatic randomized controlled trial, the investigators plan to explore the potential for Hockey FIT to reduce a clinically important amount of weight, increase physical activity levels, and lead to improvements in other health-related outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Overweight
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Hockey FIT Program

Detailed Description

In the United Kingdom, the Football Fans in Training (FFIT) program was developed to encourage men to lead a healthier lifestyle through a sport-related medium. FFIT is a gender-sensitized, weight loss and healthy living program developed for delivery to overweight and obese men through professional football clubs. Published results from FFIT show that the program was able to actively recruit and engage men and for the men who participated, sustained weight loss and positive lifestyle change was observed (Hunt et al., 2014).

This study will use a two-arm, pilot pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. The investigators will conduct the study in conjunction with two Ontario Junior A Hockey Clubs. Following assessment of eligibility and baseline measurements, men will be individually randomized (1:1; stratified by club) to either the intervention group (receiving the Hockey FIT program) or to the comparison group (usual care wait-list control). The comparison group will be offered to start the Hockey FIT program after a 12-week delay. All men (both intervention and comparison groups) will receive publicly available healthy eating and physical activity materials at baseline. Measurements will be taken at baseline and 12 weeks (both groups) and again at 12 months (intervention group only).

The results of this study will be used to inform a fully-powered RCT where the primary objective will be to determine whether, compared to the usual care wait-list control group, the Hockey FIT group will lose weight (at least 5% weight loss from baseline) at 12 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 6K1
      • London Knights
    • Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, N7S 6K4
      • Sarnia Sting

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 35 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Objectively-measured body-mass index of at least 28 kg/m2
• Clear Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) (i.e., either by answering "No" to all questions or receiving clearance from a health care provider)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to comprehend letter of information and consent documentation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hockey FIT program; 12-week active phase - exercise and healthy living program (1x/week; 90 minutes/session); 40-week maintenance phase (individualized approach)	Behavioral: Hockey FIT Program; Active phase: a) Classroom-based education on successful weight management strategies and instruction on behaviour change techniques/dietary interventions; promote peer and other forms of social support; and b) Physical activity sessions in aerobic/strength/flexibility exercises. Maintenance phase: Participants independently set new lifestyle prescriptions and goals and track their exercise, physical activity, and healthy eating with the support of a suite of free-of-charge health technology support tools; Other Names: Hockey Fans in Training Program; Hockey Fans in Training; Hockey FIT
No Intervention: Usual-care wait-list control; No active intervention (usual care)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight loss (absolute and percentage)	Measured using digital weight scale	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight loss (absolute and percentage)	Measured using digital weight scale	12 months (Hockey FIT group only)
Average steps per day using pedometer	Measured over a 7-day period using pedometers	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Total physical activity in MET-minutes/week using questionnaire	International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Version	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Time spent in sedentary activity using questionnaire	Measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Version	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Eating habits: Fatty food score using questionnaire	Measured by the modified Dietary Instrument for Nutrition Education	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Eating habits: fruit and vegetable score using questionnaire	Measured by the modified Dietary Instrument for Nutrition Education	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Eating habits: sugary food score using questionnaire	Measured by the modified Dietary Instrument for Nutrition Education	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Eating habits: Starting the conversation summary score using questionnaire	Measured by Starting the Conversation Dietary Assessment Tool	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Alcohol consumption using recall questionnaire	Measured by a 7-day alcohol recall (number of drinks in last 7 days)	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Resting systolic blood pressure	Measured using automated blood pressure monitor	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Resting diastolic blood pressure	Measured using automated blood pressure monitor	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Waist circumference	Measured using tape measure	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Body mass index using height and weight measures	Height will be measured with a portable stadiometer; weight will be measured with a digital weight scale	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Self-esteem summary score using questionnaire	Summary score from Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Positive affect score using questionnaire	Measured by the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Negative affect score using questionnaire	Measured by the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Health-related quality of life: Descriptive health state using questionnaire	EQ-5D index measured by EQ-5D-3L	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)
Health-related quality of life: VAS using questionnaire	EQ VAS measured by EQ-5D-3L	12 weeks (& 12 months - Hockey FIT group only)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Western University, Canada

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Blunt W, Gill DP, Sibbald SL, Riggin B, Pulford RW, Scott R, Danylchuk K, Gray CM, Wyke S, Bunn C, Petrella RJ. Optimization of the Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) weight loss and healthy lifestyle program for male hockey fans. BMC Public Health. 2017 Nov 28;17(1):916. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4926-z.
• Gill DP, Blunt W, De Cruz A, Riggin B, Hunt K, Zou G, Sibbald S, Danylchuk K, Zwarenstein M, Gray CM, Wyke S, Bunn C, Petrella RJ. Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) pilot study protocol: a gender-sensitized weight loss and healthy lifestyle program for overweight and obese male hockey fans. BMC Public Health. 2016 Oct 19;16(1):1096. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3730-5.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): March 24, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 2, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 27, 2017
• Last Verified: September 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Health Promotion; Prevention; Diet; Lifestyle Intervention; Men; Chronic Disease; Health Technology; Sport Mentorship
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: pHFIT123

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO