Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT): Improving Men's Health Through the Power of Sport

NCT ID: NCT03636282

Last Updated: 2023-06-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 997 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-11-13
• Study Completion Date: 2023-05-03

Brief Summary

Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) is a 12-month (3-month active phase and 9-month minimally-supported phase) weight loss and healthy lifestyle program for middle-aged, male hockey fans with overweight or obesity, delivered by trained coaches in collaboration with major junior or professional hockey teams and implementation partners (e.g., YMCAs, local fitness facilities, and universities) in Canada and the United States.

In the proposed study, a minimum of 32 sites (affiliated with hockey teams and local implementation partners) will be randomly assigned to either immediate delivery (Hockey FIT program) or delayed delivery (wait-list control). At each site, male hockey fans at risk for chronic diseases will be recruited to take part in the study (note: the goal is to recruit approximately 40 men/site). Sites assigned to the delayed delivery group will offer the Hockey FIT program to their enrolled participants after 12 months.

Through the Hockey FIT program, the investigators aim to promote weight loss, increase physical activity levels, and improve other health measures through a cost-effective solution that is acceptable and appealing to men who have overweight or obesity.

Detailed Description

The overall goal of this study is to reduce preventable chronic diseases in men by improving health behaviours and health indicators. To achieve this goal, following a successful pilot study providing strong evidence to proceed with a definitive trial, the investigators are conducting a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Hockey FIT program.

The primary specific aim is to conduct an outcome evaluation to evaluate the effectiveness of Hockey FIT in middle-aged men who have overweight or obesity. Specifically, the investigators will: examine whether Hockey FIT (vs. wait-list control) leads to: greater weight loss at 12 months (primary outcome), as well as improved health behaviours (physical activity; sedentary time; eating habits) and health indicators (physiological measures; health & psychosocial measures) at 3 and 12 months.

Following the pilot study, the investigators will use the affiliation of being a fan of hockey as a powerful draw to engage men. Sites will be selected based on availability of both a major junior (or professional) hockey team and an implementation partner (e.g., YMCA branch, fitness facility, University) located in the city. A minimum of 32 sites in Canada and the United States will be randomized to the intervention (Hockey FIT program: immediately delivery) or comparator (wait-list control: delayed delivery); at each site, men will be recruited to participate (with the goal of recruiting approximately 40 men/site). Intervention sites will begin Hockey FIT immediately while comparator sites will offer Hockey FIT after a 12-month delay. The measurement sessions involving both groups will take place at 0 (baseline), 3 and 12 months.

Conditions

Overweight; Obesity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Hockey FIT Program (Immediate Delivery)

Hockey FIT Program: A gender-sensitized, weight loss and healthy lifestyle program that engages men using the power of being a sports fan.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Hockey FIT Program (Immediate Delivery)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Hockey FIT is comprised of a 3-Month Active Phase and a 9-Month Minimally-Supported Phase.

Active Phase: 12 weekly, 90-minute group-based sessions consisting of classroom-based education and exercise. Outside of sessions, participants follow their individualized lifestyle prescriptions for healthy eating, physical activity (steps), and exercise. Participants are encouraged to regularly use health technology support tools customized to Hockey FIT. Minimally-supported phase: Participants are encouraged to continue with their healthy lifestyle behaviour changes and to regularly use the health technology support tools.

Wait-List Control (Delayed Delivery)

No intervention for 12 months. After 12 months, Hockey FIT program is offered.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Hockey FIT Program (Immediate Delivery)

Hockey FIT is comprised of a 3-Month Active Phase and a 9-Month Minimally-Supported Phase.

Active Phase: 12 weekly, 90-minute group-based sessions consisting of classroom-based education and exercise. Outside of sessions, participants follow their individualized lifestyle prescriptions for healthy eating, physical activity (steps), and exercise. Participants are encouraged to regularly use health technology support tools customized to Hockey FIT. Minimally-supported phase: Participants are encouraged to continue with their healthy lifestyle behaviour changes and to regularly use the health technology support tools.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Male;

2. Between 35 and 65 years of age;

3. Objectively-measured body-mass index of at least 27 kg/m2

4. Deemed safe to participate in physical activity [i.e., clear the 2018 Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) or receive written clearance from a health care provider].

Exclusion Criteria

1) Advised by a health care provider to not participate in the program

• Minimum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Western University, Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Robert Petrella

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Robert Petrella, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Western University

Locations

Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center

Flint, Michigan, United States

Saginaw Valley State University

Saginaw, Michigan, United States

Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Portland, Oregon, United States

City of Brooks

Brooks, Alberta, Canada

Mount Royal University

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

University of Lethbridge

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Downtown Medicine Hat YMCA

Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Northside Community Centre YMCA of Northern Alberta

Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Club XO Fitness

Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada

YMCA Kamloops

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

YMCA Okanagan

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

YMCA-YWCA Westhills

Langford, British Columbia, Canada

Langley Events Centre

Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Penticton Community Centre

Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

YMCA of Northern BC

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Shaw Centre

Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada

Avenir Centre

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Afterburn Performance

Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

YMCA of Halifax and Dartmouth

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Barrie YMCA

Barrie, Ontario, Canada

YMCA of Central Eastern Ontario - Belleville Branch

Belleville, Ontario, Canada

YMCA Sudbury

Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Les Chater Family YMCA

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

YMCA of Kingston

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Bostwick YMCA

London, Ontario, Canada

Mississauga Burnhamthorpe Rd. YMCA Centre

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

YMCA of North Bay

North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Oshawa Mary Street YMCA Centre

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce

Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada

Balsillie Family YMCA

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

YMCA Jerry McCaw Family Centre

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

YMCA of Sault Ste Marie

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

Walker Family YMCA

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

YMCA at Central Park Athletics

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

University of Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

CBI Health Centre

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada

University of Regina

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

YMCA of Saskatoon

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Lt. Colonel Clifton Centre

Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada

Countries

United States; Canada

References

Blunt WM, Kfrerer ML, Gill DP, Shillington KJ, Riggin B, Irwin JD, Bliss B, Petrella RJ. Process evaluation of the Hockey Fans in Training lifestyle intervention (for men with overweight or obesity). Transl Behav Med. 2025 Jan 16;15(1):ibaf002. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibaf002.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 39963751 (View on PubMed)

Petrella RJ, Gill DP, Boa Sorte Silva NC, Riggin B, Blunt WM, Kfrerer M, Majoni M, Marsh J, Irwin JD, Stranges S, Zwarenstein M, Zou G. The hockey fans in training intervention for men with overweight or obesity: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial. EClinicalMedicine. 2024 Nov 7;77:102911. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102911. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 39568632 (View on PubMed)

Petrella RJ, Gill DP, Kfrerer M, Riggin B, Majoni M, Blunt W, Bliss B, Silva NCBS, Aspinall PS, Adekoya P, DiNunzio M, Marsh J, Zou G, Irwin JD. Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT): Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics from a cluster randomized controlled trial in men with overweight or obesity. Contemp Clin Trials. 2023 Jun;129:107178. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107178. Epub 2023 Apr 7.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 37031793 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

111881

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id