Rugby Fans in Training New Zealand (RUFIT-NZ): a pilot randomized controlled trial of a healthy lifestyle program for overweight men delivered through professional rugby clubs in New Zealand

Abstract

BackgroundHealthy lifestyle programs that are designed specifically to appeal to and support men to improve lifestyle behaviors and lose weight are needed. The Rugby Fans in Training-New Zealand (RUFIT-NZ) program is delivered by professional rugby clubs and inspired by the successful Football Fans In Training program (FFIT), a gender sensitized weight loss program for obese middle-aged men delivered by professional football clubs in Scotland. RUFIT-NZ required development and evaluation for feasibility.MethodsTo develop the intervention we reviewed content from the FFIT program and evidence-based physical activity, dietary and weight management guidelines, and undertook a series of focus groups and key informant interviews. We then evaluated the feasibility of the intervention in a two-arm, parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial in New Zealand. Ninety-six participants were randomized to either the 12-week RUFIT-NZ intervention (N = 49) or a control group (N = 47). The intervention was delivered through professional rugby clubs and involved physical activity training and classroom sessions on healthy lifestyle behaviors. Pilot trial outcomes included body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lifestyle behaviors. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention rates, and acceptability of the intervention.ResultsAt 12 weeks the mean difference in body weight was 2.5 kg (95% CI -0.4 to 5.4), which favored the intervention. Statistically significant differences in favor of the intervention group were also observed for waist circumference, resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and the proportion of participants that were adherent to 3 or more healthy lifestyle behaviors. The intervention was considered feasible to test in a full trial given the good recruitment and retention rates, and positive feedback from participants.ConclusionsA pilot study of a healthy lifestyle intervention delivered via professional rugby clubs in New Zealand demonstrated positive effects on weight and physiological outcomes, as well as adherence to lifestyle behaviors. Feasibility issues in terms of recruitment, retention, and participant acceptability were assessed and findings will be used to inform the design of a definitive trial.Trial registrationThe trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000137493, 05/12/2016.

Scale-Up and Scale-Out of a Gender-Sensitized Weight Management and Healthy Living Program Delivered to Overweight Men via Professional Sports Clubs: The Wider Implementation of Football Fans in Training (FFIT)

“…A −2.5 kg (95% CI −5.4 to 0.4) mean weight loss at 12 weeks favored the intervention group, who also showed positive improvements in waist circumference, resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness and 'adherence' to lifestyle behaviors. All men who were followed up reported that they liked the program and would recommend it to other men [60]. As outcomes were promising and the study confirmed the feasibility and acceptability of RUFIT-NZ, the program (with some adaptations) is currently being evaluated in a full-scale RCT.…”

“…In 2015, a team led from New Zealand (NZ) obtained funding from the NZ Health Research Council and University of Otago to adapt and pilot FFIT for delivery as the Rugby Fans in Training NZ (RUFIT-NZ) in professional rugby clubs in Auckland and Dunedin. This reflected the fact that "Rugby (Union and League) is an integral part of NZ culture, the most popular spectator team sport, with high participation rates, particularly in Maori and Pacific peoples" [60] (p. 3 of 14). The NZ team were "cognizant that changes to the program may be needed to align with the rugby environment and cultural needs of men in NZ.…”

“…The RUFIT-NZ program was delivered to a different target group (men aged 25-65 years, who self-reported not meeting NZ PA guidelines, and had a BMI > 25 kg/m 2 . Slightly different versions of RUFIT-NZ were piloted in clubs in Auckland and Dunedin (see [60], Tables 1 and 2, for a detailed comparison of both versions with FFIT). The most notable changes were that the Auckland delivery tested out twice-weekly 90 min sessions (one at the weekend and one in the working week), three nutrition sessions were delivered by Pacific Heartbeat (a community nutrition education group) and the session on alcohol was delivered by the club doctor.…”

A Weight-Loss and Healthy Living Program for Men Delivered in Swedish Football and Ice-Hockey Clubs (ViSiT): Results from the ViSiT Feasibility Study

“…The FFIT concept has spread across the world via rugby (RUFIT-NZ, New Zealand) [20], football (Aussie-FIT, Australia) [21] hockey (Hockey FIT, Canada) [18] [19] and in Europe via EuroFIT [23]. Thus, this type of intervention needs refinement to fit into different contexts.…”

“…In New Zealand, the rugby clubs play an important role and Rugby Fans in Training New Zealand (RUFIT-NZ) delivered via professional rugby clubs demonstrated positive effects on weight and physiologic outcomes, as well as adherence to lifestyle behaviors [20]. Aussie-FIT, the first study in Australia to test an intervention targeting fan health delivered in Australian Football League settings, with 120 overweight/obese men, was carried out in 2018 [21].…”