Supporting our sports loving Aussie men to improve their heart health with Aussie FIT
The Hospital Research Foundation Group, via the Nicholas Way Fund for Early Career Research, is proud to be supporting the Aussie FIT program (Fans in Training) which seeks to improve the health of men with and at-risk of cardiovascular disease.
Aussie FIT is a 12-week program designed specifically for men using their passion for sport as the motivation to get active and improve their heart health. The Curtin University led program is based on the highly successful Football Fans in Training Program in the UK and is led by coaches and delivered in sports club settings.
The 90-minute sessions are tailored to participants’ individual physical ability while also educating them about healthy diet choices and how to sustain healthy habits in the long-term beyond the 12-week trial period.
The project is aimed at men with ‘at risk’ cardiovascular disease (CVD) who may have otherwise been reluctant to participate in activities designed to improve their heart health. A trial of the program funded by the Heart Foundation is ongoing in Perth, Darwin and Brisbane across several sports clubs.
Curtin University research academic, Dr Matthew McDonald, successfully applied for the Nicholas Way Fund for Early Career Research earlier this year to provide top-up funds to support his research.
Dr McDonald described how the additional funding would assist his team to support an Aussie FIT club coach and accredited exercise physiologist to deliver an extra round of the program at a Western Australian Football League club.
Over 120 men in Western Australia have enrolled in the trial to date, and the team plan to recruit 30 more participants.
The primary outcome of the trial, he said, is to deliver a change in (device measured) Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity from baseline at the six month follow up point, as well as secondary intervention outcomes including diet, weight and psychological health.
“Cardiovascular diseases kills more than any other disease in the world and more men than any other disease,” Dr McDonald says.
“This study is aimed at men living with or at-risk of cardiovascular diseases and feeds into Australian men’s love of football, targeting those who otherwise may not have engaged in similar health initiatives.”
The Nicholas Way Fund supports Early Career Researchers in Western Australia by providing additional top-up funds to ensure the success of their research project.
This fund has been established in honour of esteemed WA journalist Nicholas Way via a generous gift from Professor Sue Fletcher who is passionate about creating successful pathways for early career researchers.
