Some of our newest faces in the MAN v FAT community is our American contingent. MAN v FAT Soccer went live in the autumn of 2024 and has grown to be nearly 1,000 members already – contributing over 30,000lbs to the huge weight loss by our men.
Among the very first men to sign up stateside was Robert Pecchio, who has gone on not only to enjoy a long stint as a MAN v FAT Soccer member in Broward, Florida, but has also added his professional expertise to the growth of our leagues in the USA.
Here’s what he had to say about his involvement so far.
What was it that made you sign up for MAN v FAT Soccer in the first place?
I grew up playing soccer, but it had been decades since I had played. When my firstborn was born, I was desperate for an adult league to get back into it. I surveyed a bunch of options, but they just didn’t seem right.
All competition, no community, show up and play and go home. Almost as if it were destiny, I ran across the ad on Instagram for MAN v FAT, and dug into what it was all about, and I was hooked!
You were one of the earliest advocates for the program when we first launched. What was it that captured your attention and how pleased are you with how both your own league and the program have flourished since then?
The answer is in two different, but similar ways: on one hand, I really liked you guys at HQ. I got to know Matt Hudson right away, and later everyone else. I immediately related to the spirit and mentality of the team as you embarked on this mission to bring this great thing to the US. You guys were pioneers, and I loved being a part of this groundbreaking achievement.
Second, I really clicked with the guys in the actual program. It was a unique experience. 40 of us started out in this program all at the same time – all at the same grassroots stage. We have grown, fought, argued, succeeded and failed – together.
I think that’s really what made MAN v FAT different and compelling. The belonging. The guys.
Why do you think the program is working in the US? What makes it different to what else is out there for guys?
What I really loved about this program (outside of what I’ve mentioned above), is the age group or lack thereof. We have late 20s guys all the way up to 50+. Each guy brings something different to the table, including life experiences. In that way, it feels like a tribe. We check in on each other. Bond. And get to try to smash goals against each other on a weekly basis.
How important is the mental health element as well as the physical health benefits?
I’m not one of those people who thinks all men’s problems would just go away if they are more vulnerable. I don’t think we are wired like that. I think we even have an obligation, in fact, to present a strong form in certain contexts.
But I also think we are human. And we do not need a safe space that we can morph into our own. This is why I love that we are called “Man v Fat” unapologetically.
We have our unique ways of sharing, confiding, and being vulnerable when we gather—our own language. This is a great strength of this community. Our being men, embracing that uniqueness.
How has it transformed your life? What benefits have you felt?
This program has changed my life in so many ways. On one hand, it’s ignited my passion for a game I was previoulsy disconnected from, and fully immersed me in a community that I did not previously have access to.
I’ve become a bit of a fanatic. For example, much to my wife’s dismay, I’ve purchased close to 100 second hand/used soccer jersey (“shirts”) since I’ve joined. It’s a problem.
But more importantly, I’ve developed a routine and a structure that can improve my longevity and help me balance my life by prioritizing my health.
I signed up because I was diagnosed with NAFLD, a metabolic condition of an origin I was unsure of, and something I thought a lot about, and made me fear for my future. I’m proud to say that my last scan showed that I have completely reversed my condition. I can’t tell you how exciting that is, being a father, a husband, and also, now a soccer dude.
In relation to your professional role, how does MAN v FAT fit into the mix for supporting men and their health, particularly in relation to their workplaces?
I work as an attorney in the labor and employment space. I help businesses set up, structure, and create thriving workplaces, and handle workplace conflict.
One of those things I’ve done, and I hope to continue to do is to push for the consideration of men’s unique needs and place in our communities, such as in workplaces. For example, it took a while for businesses to see the value in things like paternity leave for fathers, work life balance, and mental health consideration.
Even now, I see unique pressures and issues that affect men in the workplace regulatory environment and social ecosystem. We are making progress, but we still must battle things unique to us.
This is why programs like MAN v FAT are so important. They keep these things on the radar of our public policy makers. They remind us that men, like any subgroup, have struggles and challenges that deserve consideration, whether that be formally—like through lawmaking—or informally, through community building. This program empowers those conversations, teaches us not to shy away from them, and builds a better future.
