Behind the weekly sessions up and down the UK, there is a hard working HQ team always striving to make the programme and its support for men even better.
MAN v FAT has been through several stages of evolution since it first got started in 2014, venturing into new sports, developing its digital infrastructure and – most importantly – the way in which it helps men and their different needs.
One of the longest serving members of the HQ team is Craig Morris, who now leads our Player Support Team. We caught up with him to find out more about how MAN v FAT has grown.
How proud are you of the 1,000,000lbs lost achievement?
Beyond the obvious spectacle of the million lbs loss landmark, which is of course monumental and impressive and absolutely something I’m immensely proud to have been a part of, I’m looking past that total and feeling grateful to have been part of changing the hundreds of thousands of lives behind that number. Having spoken directly to so many of our members in my various roles, I’ve also seen first hand the achievements in improving mental health, that are more difficult to quantify.
What do you think have been the secrets to MAN v FAT’s success over the years?
From my perspective , the strength of MAN v FAT has always been in its no-nonsense, no-frills approach. The name MAN v FAT right away tells you that nothing is sugar-coated (which is a plus if you’re trying to manage your sweet tooth) and while I’ve had success losing weight with other services in the past, I’ve always felt that I don’t really need guidance on what a healthy diet and lifestyle should look like.
Instead what I need is to engage with something that I actually look forward to because it’s fun. Because MAN v FAT services incentivise members to make healthy lifestyle changes through teamwork and competition and frame that around sports people already want to take part in as a hobby, it makes it that much easier to incorporate into your daily life.
How important were those early days in setting the tone and the foundations for what was to follow?
That bold naming decision – MAN v FAT, in a world where just saying ‘fat’ was taboo – was foundational for us and we took the same approach to the magazine and the forum. I’m not sure we ever consciously set out to make the tone informal, so much as we just couldn’t help being ourselves, which meant everything was open and approachable (and hopefully funny, we definitely did try to be funny).
As MAN v FAT has evolved, we’ve made a conscious effort to promote community, sometimes in ways that to me feel a bit forced (I still refer to ‘clubs’ as ‘leagues’!) but always with the genuine intention of putting the concept of weight loss as a team effort front and centre. It’s been amazing to see events like the national tournament, MAN v FAT Awards and Amazing Losers evolve and they’re always a welcome opportunity for our central team to see that sense of community in action.
What are the greatest challenges still facing men and their health?
For me, the greatest challenges still facing men and their health are still around stigma and gatekeeping. Even among the community, we still sadly see the odd case of fat-shaming from people who should really know better.
Use of GLP-1 weight loss medication injections has also been stigmatised by some individuals as an unfair advantage to weight loss. It’s always been crucial to what we do to never tell anyone how not to lose weight, as long as they’re doing so at a safe and healthy pace and what they’re doing is right for them. These medications are not a miracle cure and still require structure and discipline from those using them.
What’s next for MAN v FAT and its support of men?
The future for MAN v FAT has always been to aspire to reach more men and it’s been great to see us expanding into more areas, including the USA and MAN v FAT Rugby. I’ve always been conscious of the fact that not everyone enjoys football and I’d love to see us take on some more sports. They always laugh at me for suggesting MAN v FAT Darts, but I’m still keen to see it!
