Health and Implementation Outcomes of Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) for Women: A Single-Arm Intervention Study

Hockey FIT is a gender-sensitized, evidence-based lifestyle intervention that engages men with overweight or obesity through their connection to local sports teams. Building on its demonstrated effectiveness, we adapted the program for women to address gender-specific barriers to health behavior change.

The objective of this study was to adapt and test Hockey FIT in women fans.

We conducted a single-arm intervention study with implementation evaluation to assess both health outcomes and implementation factors of the Hockey FIT program for women. The gender-sensitized program was adapted to reflect women's preferences and included 12 weekly, 90-minute group sessions led by trained coaches, incorporating goal setting, experiential learning, and peer support. Data were collected online and in person at baseline and 12 weeks. Outcome measures included self-reported steps/day, physical activity, sitting time, healthful eating, well-being, social support, and objectively measured weight and fitness. We explored the following implementation factors: reach, dose/attendance, fidelity/adaptation, participant responsiveness, acceptability, and barriers.

Sixty women [mean (SD) 41 (11) years] enrolled in the study. Reasons for joining included a desire to connect with others sharing similar interests. There were significant mean changes from baseline to 12 weeks for steps (1318 steps, 95% CI: 51 to 2585), total physical activity, healthful eating, and well-being indicators. Participants voiced their desire for casual conversation and friendly competition to spur each other on.

This study highlights the ability to deliver an effective intervention in a new population with promising outcomes.