A Â鶹ֱ²¥-led men\u2019s health program, Aussie Fans in Training (Aussie-FIT), which uses a passion for AFL to keep men active and engaged, will now be able to expand thanks to a $1 million dollar funding boost by the National Heart Foundation of Australia.<\/p>\n
Led by Associate Professor Eleanor Quested from Curtin\u2019s enAble Institute and School of Population Health, the 12-week Aussie-FIT program is delivered in collaboration with football clubs, using their facilities and \u2018behind the scenes experiences\u2019, to help men at risk of or diagnosed with cardiovascular disease to learn skills to develop and maintain healthier habits, such as eating a heart-healthy diet, and being more active.<\/p>\n
Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran said the funding would help the program reach more men in Western Australia and around the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Heart Foundation Behaviour Change Strategic Grant is highly sought after and I congratulate both Associate Professor Quested and her collaborating partners for their involvement in this program,\u201d Professor Moran said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith almost three out of four middle-aged Australian men living with overweight or obesity, this program and the insights gained could help address the important national health issue and social burden of cardiovascular disease.\u201d<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Eleanor Quested said the Heart Foundation grant will allow the team to both \u2018scale-up\u2019 the program to make it available through more WA football clubs and \u2018scale out\u2019 to reach male footy as well as rugby fans in other states, such as Queensland and the Northern Territory.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know from our Aussie-FIT pilot programs in Western Australia football settings with men \u2018at risk\u2019 of or diagnosed with cardiovascular disease that the program is relatively cheap to deliver, effective in attracting men, and shows promise as an approach to help men become more active, improve diet, manage their weight and improve mental health,\u201d Associate Professor Quested said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis grant will allow us to expand and to further examine and test the longer-term effectiveness of the Aussie-FIT program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also hope our research will identify how the Aussie-FIT concept can be adapted and maintained in different States and sport settings (e.g., rugby), set the stage for the development of Aussie-FIT programs for new populations (e.g., women and families), and be applied to break down barriers to participation in health behaviour change for men across Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Aussie-FIT research team also includes Professor Andrew Maiorana, Â鶹ֱ²¥, Professor James Smith, Flinders University, A\/Professor Toby Pavey, Queensland University of Technology, Professor Graham Hillis, Royal Perth Hospital and Dr Tracy McCaffrey, Monash University.<\/p>\n
Aussie-FIT partner organisations include Australian Football League \u2013 Northern Territory, West Australian Football Commission, Queensland Rugby League, Cancer Council WA (Live Lighter campaign) and Healthy Stadia.<\/p>\n