The HAT TRICK programme for improving physical activity, healthy eating and connectedness among overweight, inactive men: study protocol of a pragmatic feasibility trial

Abstract

IntroductionPhysical activity, healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer and with improved mental health. Despite these benefits, many men do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines and have poor eating behaviours. Many health promotion programmes hold little appeal to men and consequently fail to influence men’s health practices. HAT TRICK was designed as a 12-week face-to-face, gender-sensitised intervention for overweight and inactive men focusing on physical activity, healthy eating and social connectedness and was delivered in collaboration with a major junior Canadian ice hockey team (age range 16–20 years). The programme was implemented and evaluated to assess its feasibility. This article describes the intervention design and study protocol of HAT TRICK.Methods and analysisHAT TRICK participants (n=60) were men age 35 years, residing in the Okanagan Region of British Columbia, who accumulate 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week, with a body mass index of >25 kg/m2 and a pant waist size of >38’. Each 90 min weekly session included targeted health education and theory-guided behavioural change techniques, as well as a progressive (ie, an increase in duration and intensity) group physical activity component. Outcome measures were collected at baseline, 12 weeks and 9 months and included the following: objectively measured anthropometrics, blood pressure, heart rate, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, as well as self-reported physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep habits, risk of depression, health-related quality of life and social connectedness. Programme feasibility data (eg, recruitment, satisfaction, adherence, content delivery) were assessed at 12 weeks via interviews and self-report.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the University of British Columbia Okanagan Behavioural Research Ethics Board (reference no H1600736). Study findings will be disseminated through academic meetings, peer-reviewed publication, web-based podcasts, social media, plain language summaries and co-delivered community presentations.Trial registration numberISRCTN43361357,Pre results

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)

“…This body of research, and research conducted in Australia [50,[73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] and Canada (e.g., [36,69,70,72], demonstrates that, with attention to cultural constructions of masculinity in relation to health and health behavior, public health interventions can be gender-sensitized so that they both appeal to men and support them in sustainable lifestyle changes, which may cascade to other family members and to wider society. The successful scale-up and scale-out of FFIT, as documented here, profoundly contest the view that men 'won't' take part in such programs and present an ongoing challenge for the public health community to find the right 'hooks' to engage men.…”

“…Its name reflects the program's tripartite goals (to increase physical activity, encourage healthy eating and strengthen social connections amongst men) and the design of the program materials "aligns with participant identities as ice hockey fans and men" [71] (p. 2159). The pilot feasibility trial of HAT TRICK is reported elsewhere [72].…”

Unhealthy Behaviors Among Canadian Men Are Predictors of Comorbidities: Implications for Clinical Practice

“…It would be expected that hypertension was predicted by unhealthy exercise as aerobic exercise has significant favorable impacts on blood pressure ( Wen & Wang, 2017 ). While exercise has been espoused as a health promotion practice that appeals to many men, a recent review by Bottorff, Oliffe, et al (2015) revealed few programs that were explicitly designed for men, and/or formally evaluated ( Bottorff, Seaton, et al, 2015 ; Caperchione et al, 2017 ). Numerous research teams ( Faraut et al, 2012 ; Palagini et al, 2013 ; Wang et al, 2015 ) have examined the effect of sleep on hypertension, and while there are conflicting reports, many large studies have highlighted that reduced sleep having a significant impact on hypertension, most of which are unrelated to other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea ( Calhoun & Harding, 2010 ).…”

Men on the Move: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial of a Scalable, Choice-Based, Physical Activity and Active Transportation Intervention for Older Men

“…In addition, there were suggested increases in physical activity that appeared to be sustained for a short time after the intervention ceased, and in the likelihood of public transit use. Given the challenges of engaging older men in physical activity and their health (Caperchione et al, 2017), and the substantial benefits of physical activity to health should we succeed in doing so, we are encouraged by these findings.…”